BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1696
                                               By: Maxey (Turner)
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                         05-10-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) reports the highest
case rates for tuberculosis in Texas, with approximately 15 percent
of the TDCJ inmates having a positive skin test as compared with
five percent of the general population.

In 1994, in response to an outbreak of tuberculosis in a state
prison facility for the mentally retarded, the Texas Department of
Health recommended a more stringent screening process for inmates
in our state.  Currently, employees of the TDCJ are not included in
the screening process.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1696 requires the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice to enact tuberculosis screening for employees who request
the screening.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 501.059, Government Code, by redesignated
it as Section 501.060, as follows:

     Sec. 501.060.  TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING.  Redesignated from
     existing Section 501.059.  (a)  Makes no change.
     
     (b)  Requires the institutional division of the Texas
       Department of Criminal Justice to provide tuberculosis
       screening for a person if the person is an employee of
       certain institutions and the person requests the screening.
       
       SECTION 2.   Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.