By:  Madla                                            S.B. No. 1502
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to the authority of the state to provide certain genetic
    1-2  counseling and testing services.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code,
    1-5  is amended by adding Section 12.017 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 12.017.  GENETIC COUNSELING.  The department may not
    1-7  provide genetic counseling, testing, or related services to or
    1-8  through any private health care provider or to a private payor such
    1-9  as a health insurance company or health maintenance organization,
   1-10  and shall otherwise strive to provide such services only to persons
   1-11  who cannot obtain those services from the private sector.  This
   1-12  section shall not in any way restrict the testing services provided
   1-13  by the department's newborn screening program on September 1, 1993,
   1-14  nor does it restrict any state-funded university from providing
   1-15  genetic services that maintain or increase the proficiency of the
   1-16  teaching staff, provide learning opportunities for students or
   1-17  research information.
   1-18        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.