By Maxey, Van de Putte H.B. No. 607 75R10990 MCK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of a durable medical equipment and 1-3 assistive technology listing. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Title 7, Human Resources Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Chapter 116 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 116. DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY 1-8 LISTING 1-9 Sec. 116.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission" 1-10 means the Texas Rehabilitation Commission. 1-11 Sec. 116.002. DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTIVE 1-12 TECHNOLOGY LISTING. (a) The commission shall establish a listing 1-13 to facilitate the reuse of durable medical equipment and assistive 1-14 technology. 1-15 (b) The commission shall maintain a toll-free telephone 1-16 number to list items of durable medical equipment and assistive 1-17 technology that are available for donation. The commission shall 1-18 refer individuals with items of durable medical equipment and 1-19 assistive technology that are available for donation to an 1-20 organization licensed under Chapter 432, Health and Safety Code, to 1-21 distribute salvaged merchandise. 1-22 (c) The commission shall design a sticker that contains an 1-23 informative statement about the durable medical equipment and 1-24 assistive technology listing and the toll-free telephone number for 2-1 the listing and that may be affixed to durable medical equipment or 2-2 assistive technology. 2-3 (d) The commission shall provide the stickers described by 2-4 Subsection (c) to each retailer of durable medical equipment or 2-5 assistive technology in the state. 2-6 (e) Before an item of durable medical equipment or assistive 2-7 technology is sold to a consumer other than a hospital or other 2-8 health care provider, the retailer shall affix the sticker 2-9 described by Subsection (c) to the item. 2-10 (f) Chapter 2175, Government Code, does not apply to any 2-11 equipment listed in the durable medical equipment and assistive 2-12 technology listing under this chapter. 2-13 Sec. 116.003. LOCAL ORGANIZATION. (a) The commission shall 2-14 encourage the establishment of local organizations to facilitate 2-15 the reuse of durable medical equipment and assistive technology. 2-16 (b) The commission shall provide information to local 2-17 organizations about the license required under Chapter 432, Health 2-18 and Safety Code, to distribute salvaged merchandise. 2-19 Sec. 116.004. AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT. The commission may 2-20 contract with local organizations and other state agencies to 2-21 facilitate the reuse of durable medical equipment and assistive 2-22 technology. 2-23 Sec. 116.005. DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTIVE 2-24 TECHNOLOGY OWNED BY THE STATE. The commission shall ensure that 2-25 any durable medical equipment or assistive technology owned by the 2-26 state listed with the durable medical equipment and assistive 2-27 technology listing that is donated be donated to a nonprofit 3-1 organization licensed under Chapter 432, Health and Safety Code, 3-2 for distribution to indigent individuals. 3-3 Sec. 116.006. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to 3-4 administer this chapter. 3-5 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 3-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-11 passage, and it is so enacted.