|
Senate Bill 966 |
Senate Author: Kolkhorst et al. |
|
Effective: 6-16-21 |
House Sponsor: Klick |
Senate Bill 966 amends the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Act, Health and Safety Code, to provide for the issuance of an order by the commissioner of state health services of a public health emergency that is separate from the current public health disaster, which requires a declaration to be issued by the governor.
Senate Bill 966 establishes the legislative public health oversight board to provide oversight for declarations of public health disasters and orders of public health emergencies issued by the commissioner and to perform other duties required by law. The bill removes the commissioner's authority to unilaterally renew a public health disaster and requires instead that the legislature renew the disaster or the board approve the commissioner's renewal. If the legislature or the board is unable to meet to consider the renewal of a declaration of a public health disaster, the declaration continues in effect until the legislature or the board meets, unless the declaration is terminated by the commissioner or governor. The bill authorizes the commissioner to renew a public health emergency for an additional 30 days without legislative approval and requires the commissioner, not later than the seventh day after the date an initial disaster declaration or emergency order is issued, to consult with the chairs of the applicable standing legislative committees regarding the disaster or emergency.