BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3269

By: Guillen

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that there is a need for a coordinated and easily accessible hub for resources relating to chronic kidney disease, which impacts many Texans. Currently, individuals may struggle to find comprehensive information on prevention, treatment options, and support services related to this disease and related illnesses. C.S.H.B. 3269 seeks to address this need by establishing the Rita Littlefield Chronic Kidney Disease Centralized Resource Center within the Health and Human Services Commission to serve as a centralized system through which information on chronic kidney disease and related illnesses may be provided.

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

C.S.H.B. 3269 amends the Health and Safety Code to establish the Rita Littlefield Chronic Kidney Disease Centralized Resource Center within the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to serve as a centralized system through which persons may do the following:

· obtain information on chronic kidney disease and related illnesses, including each clinical stage of kidney disease and end stage renal disease; and

· receive information on clinical trials and clinical trial opportunities for chronic kidney disease and related illnesses.

C.S.H.B. 3269 requires HHSC to do the following:

· administer the resource center in accordance with the bill's provisions;

· structure and operate the resource center in a manner that provides a comprehensive approach for readily accessing information on and resources for chronic kidney disease and related illnesses, including for each clinical stage of kidney disease and end stage renal disease;

· establish a kidney health clinical trials registry to be maintained by the resource center through which patients and family members of those patients may register to receive educational information on clinical trials and clinical trial opportunities based on the clinical stage of a patient's chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease; and

· ensure information provided by the resource center is available in both English and Spanish.

C.S.H.B. 3269 requires the comprehensive approach to allow individuals to obtain or to directly access aggregated information on the following:

· chronic kidney disease awareness, prevention, and professional education opportunities, including:

o awareness campaigns for chronic kidney disease and related illnesses;

o information on accessing free screenings for chronic kidney disease and related illnesses;

o professional resources and continuing education opportunities for health care providers who treat patients with chronic kidney disease or related illnesses;

o for individuals who register for inclusion in the kidney health clinical trials registry, information on clinical trials and clinical trial opportunities for chronic kidney disease and related illnesses; and

o information on chronic kidney disease partners, including chronic kidney disease patient advocates, dialysis professionals, health care providers, researchers, manufacturers, and other appropriate persons;

· patient and family resources, including:

o educational resources containing general and specific chronic kidney disease information;

o resources containing information on chronic kidney disease prevention and early detection of chronic kidney disease and related illnesses;

o nutritional and metabolism information for individuals with chronic kidney disease and related illnesses; and

o directories for physicians who specialize in kidney health; and

· resources on chronic kidney disease treatment options and modalities, including:

o kidney donations and kidney transplantation initiatives;

o deceased and living organ donation programs and initiatives;

o organ recipient registries;

o treatment options for chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease; and

o financial assistance for obtaining treatment for chronic kidney disease or related illnesses.

C.S.H.B. 3269 requires HHSC, in collaboration with the Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force, to publish and maintain on the HHSC website information and resources the resource center provides and authorizes HHSC to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to implement the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3269 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute omits a provision from the introduced that established implementation of a provision of the bill by HHSC is mandatory only if a specific appropriation is made for that purpose.