SRC-CDH H.B. 1012 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1012
By: Counts (Duncan)
Intergovernmental Relations
5-12-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, home-rule municipalities in the western region of the state are
not adequately served by the Texas Department of Health (TDH) due to
distance and travel time from cities where the health authority is
located.  For example, the city of Big Spring currently contracts with TDH
to provide the services of the health authority and all public health
related matters, but the health authority (a licensed physician) is
located in El Paso, Texas, which is 350 miles away.  TDH will only provide
the on-site services of the health authority one week a year for food
service inspections.  Many environmental health problems are neglected due
to lack of local authority to administer the Texas Health and Safety Code.
The appointment of a local health authority would be a burden on the Big
Spring city budget; however, the city currently employs a registered
professional engineer who could perform these duties at no additional
cost.  Removing the population restriction from the current Texas Health
and Safety Code would allow home-rule municipalities to use a registered
professional engineer to enforce the code on a timely basis.  H.B. 1012
removes the population restriction and authorizes an environmental health
officer to be appointed to enforce this chapter in any home-rule
municipality.  
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1012 establishes provisions regarding appointment of an
environmental health officer in a home-rule municipality. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 341.082(a), Health and Safety Code, to authorize
an environmental health officer to be appointed to enforce this chapter in
a home-rule municipality.  Deletes existing text regarding a home-rule
municipality with a population of at least one million.   

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.