1-1  By:  Sibley                                           S.B. No. 1685
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed April 27, 1995; April 28, 1995, read
    1-3  first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 2, 1995,
    1-4  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0;
    1-5  May 2, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-7                                AN ACT
    1-8  relating to the detection and prevention of prostate cancer.
    1-9        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-10        SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
   1-11  amended by adding Chapter 91 to read as follows:
   1-12                     CHAPTER 91.  PROSTATE CANCER
   1-13        Sec. 91.001.  FINDINGS.  The legislature finds that:
   1-14              (1)  prostate cancer is a major public health problem
   1-15  with an estimated 244,000 cases to be diagnosed resulting in over
   1-16  40,000 deaths nationally;
   1-17              (2)  early detection through annual checkups and
   1-18  prostatic specific antigen (PSA) testing are critical to the
   1-19  preservation of life and to health care strategies for those at
   1-20  risk of prostate cancer; and
   1-21              (3)  it is in the public interest of this state to
   1-22  promote public awareness of the benefits and value of the early
   1-23  detection, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.
   1-24        Sec. 91.002.  PROSTATE CANCER PROGRAM.  In consultation with
   1-25  the board, the commissioner shall develop and implement a program
   1-26  that educates the public on the causes of prostate cancer and the
   1-27  factors associated with the development of prostate cancer.  The
   1-28  program shall also publicize the value of early detection and
   1-29  prevention and identify the options available for treatment.
   1-30        Sec. 91.003.  TASK FORCE.  (a)  In developing the program
   1-31  created by Section 91.002, the commissioner shall appoint a task
   1-32  force to make recommendations on strategies for educating the
   1-33  public on the health benefits of the early detection and prevention
   1-34  of prostate cancer.
   1-35        (b)  Members of the task force are not entitled to
   1-36  compensation, per diem, or expense reimbursement for their service
   1-37  on the task force.
   1-38        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-39  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-40  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-41  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-42  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-43  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-44  passage, and it is so enacted.
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