BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1696 By: Maxey 03-28-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (T.D.C.J.) reports the highest case rates for tuberculosis in Texas, with approximately 15 percent of T.D.C.J. inmates having a positive skin test as compared to an estimated 5 percent for the general population. This poses a serious risk to both inmates and staff. The Texas Department of Health investigated the number of TB cases in a state prison facility for the mentally retarded from April 5 to September 30, 1994. The investigation uncovered fifteen cases of TB, and 100 positive skin tests. This outbreak resulted in more cases and positive skin test conversions than any other recorded Texas outbreak. T.D.H. recommended a more stringent screening process for inmates in our state. This screening should be extended to employees as well. PURPOSE This bill would require that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice enact tuberculosis screening for employees who request the screening. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Redesignates Section 501.059, Government Code, as Section 501.060 and adds a subsection (b) to require the institutional division to provide TB screening for any employee of the division requesting the procedure. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 1696 was considered by the Committee on Corrections in a public hearing on March 28, 1995. The following persons testified in favor of the bill: Linnie Stone, representing herself; Carol McMillan, representing herself and the Texas State Employees Union; Ann Darby, representing herself; Robin Anderson, representing herself and the American Lung Association of Texas; and Debbie Louder, representing herself and the Gatesville Association of Federal, State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 3 absent.