Bill Text: TX SB1681 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Center.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-19 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB1681 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB1681-Introduced.html

---

85R8118 AJZ-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1681

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Communicable Disease and
Public Health Center.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) address the communicable disease and public health
challenges of the international border region;
(2) develop a unified message that will enable this
state to:
(A) maximize the use of local resources;
(B) increase efficiency and reduce duplication
of staff resources; and
(C) strengthen collaboration with local
governmental entities; and
(3) foster a greater local and regional capacity to
address the diseases and allow the border region and this state to
capitalize on the expertise and insight of local health
professionals and departments to better serve the border
communities and region and this state.
SECTION 2. Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER
Sec. 81.451. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "center"
means the Communicable Disease and Public Health Center established
under this subchapter.
Sec. 81.452. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO ESTABLISH
CENTER. The department shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding with a county located on an international border that
has a population of at least 700,000 and that has as its county seat
a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 to establish
and jointly operate a Communicable Disease and Public Health
Center.
Sec. 81.453. DONATION OF LAND. The governing body of a
county described by Section 81.452, or a municipality in that
county, may donate real property to the department for the center.
The donation may be in fee simple or otherwise.
Sec. 81.454. ASSISTANCE FROM MUNICIPALITY. The local
health department of a county that enters into a memorandum of
understanding under Section 81.452 may seek the assistance of a
municipality in the local health department's jurisdiction to
establish and operate the center.
Sec. 81.455. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER.
(a) The center shall:
(1) provide a central repository of vector control
resources for municipalities in a county described by Section
81.452 and counties adjacent to that county;
(2) develop local surveillance, outreach, and
response campaigns to address communicable disease and potential
vectors of communicable disease;
(3) provide local, regional, and international
health-related briefings;
(4) cooperate with local, regional, state, and
international officials to:
(A) increase environmental awareness to reduce
sources for vector development; and
(B) develop recommendations for implementing
nuisance abatement policies;
(5) with the assistance of appropriate authorities,
facilitate trapping, adulticiding, and larviciding of vector
populations along the international border;
(6) provide to health care professionals current
information, including health advisories and guidance with
communicable disease case management, regarding communicable
disease and potential vectors of communicable disease;
(7) in cooperation with federal and international
partners, educate and provide health care screenings to populations
at high risk of contracting a communicable disease that are
traditionally difficult to contact, including individuals not
lawfully present in the United States; and
(8) facilitate information sharing between local
entities.
(b) A local campaign developed under Subsection (a)(2) must
be in both English and Spanish.
(c) The center may serve as a call center for concerns
regarding communicable disease and public health along the
international border.
(d) A local health department in each county adjacent to an
international border shall report to the center information
regarding:
(1) incidents of communicable disease in the county;
(2) public health challenges in the county; and
(3) any other public health or communicable disease
issue, as required by the department.
(e) The local health department of a county that enters into
a memorandum of understanding under Section 81.452 shall:
(1) collaborate with the local health department of
each adjoining county; and
(2) meet with a representative of each local health
department described by Subdivision (1) at least monthly to discuss
the health status of each county and address the occurrence and
control of communicable disease in each county.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.