BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2166

By: Guerra

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are calls to bring peace, respect, and honor to the more than 92,000 Texans who died due to COVID-19 and their surviving families and to commemorate the health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers who continued to work throughout the pandemic to ensure that Texans would be safe and secure. H.B. 2166 seeks to address the wound that COVID-19 left for so many in Texas by establishing COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day on March 4, which would honor those who lost their lives during the pandemic and commemorate the health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2166 amends the Government Code to designate March 4 as COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day in honor of people who lost their lives to COVID-19 and health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers who kept working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill requires COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies and activities.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.