SRC-CDH H.B. 1798 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1798
By: Wise (Lucio)
Health & Human Services
4-28-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

The number of abductions and attempted abductions of infants from
hospitals in Texas is increasing. Other states have responded to this
problem by ensuring that hospitals have in place precautionary policy and
procedures regarding infant patient identification and safety.  According
to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, hospital
measures such as architectural barriers which limit public access to
infant care units, video monitoring of such areas, and stringent
identification of staff and visitors in areas of infant care decrease the
likelihood of abductions.  The problem of missing infants is further
compounded by the difficulty in identifying a very young child, thought to
be abducted.  Texas children's advocacy centers believe that hospital
policy and procedures can be established that will aid in the
identification of allegedly missing infants who are recovered, including
the maintenance of records and copies of infant foot prints, photographs
taken at birth or admission, and the obtaining and retaining of cord blood
samples for genetic testing.  H.B. 1798 requires the Texas Department of
Health  to recommend hospital security procedures to reduce the likelihood
of infant patient abduction and aid in the identification of missing
infants, and requires each hospital licensed under Chapter 241 of the
Health and Safety Code to consider implementing the procedures. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1798 sets forth recommendations for hospitals relating
to missing infants. 

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 Chapter 241B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
241.0263, as follows: 

Sec. 241.0263.  RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO MISSING INFANTS.  Sets forth
the terms by which the Texas Department of Health is required to recommend
hospital security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient
abduction and aid in the identification of missing infants, and in making
recommendations, to consider hospital size and location and the number of
births at a hospital.  Requires each hospital licensed under this chapter
to consider implementing the procedures recommended under this section.   

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.