Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB968 by Kolkhorst (Relating to public health disaster and public health emergency preparedness and response; providing a civil penalty.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Department on Emergency Management to conduct annual local and regional public health disaster and emergency planning and to develop protocols for such disasters and emergencies.
The bill would establish a civil penalty if a person fails to report communicable diseases or other health conditions as required by DSHS during a public health disaster or emergency.
The bill would require DSHS to establish an Office of Chief State Epidemiologist to provide public health expertise.
The bill would require the Preparedness Coordinating Council advisory committee to conduct a study on the state's response to COVID-19 by December 1, 2022.
The analysis assumes the provisions of the bill could be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 503 Texas Medical Board, 529 Hlth & Human Svcs Comm, 537 State Health Services, 575 TX Division of Emergency Management