By McClendon                                         H.C.R. No. 279

         75R15675 EFD-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The statutory mission of the Texas Department of

 1-2     Health (TDH) is to protect and promote the health of the citizens

 1-3     of this state; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, In fulfilling its mission, the agency administers

 1-5     programs regarding the quality and delivery of health care, the

 1-6     control and prevention of disease, and the preservation of

 1-7     environmental and consumer health in accordance with both state and

 1-8     federal law; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The toxic substances control division of TDH seeks

1-10     to protect environmental health by providing services that prevent

1-11     occupational and environmental diseases through the identification,

1-12     evaluation, and control of environmental health hazards; the

1-13     division also assists with the enforcement of related laws,

1-14     including the federal Emergency Planning and Community

1-15     Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA); and

1-16           WHEREAS, TDH collects information regarding the storage of

1-17     toxic and hazardous chemicals as mandated by EPCRA and is also an

1-18     integral member of the state's Emergency Management Council, the

1-19     entity designated by the governor to oversee emergency planning and

1-20     response activities regarding releases of toxic and hazardous

1-21     substances in this state; and

1-22           WHEREAS, In its role as watchdog for the public health and

1-23     safety of Texans, TDH must ensure that both the spirit and the

1-24     letter of the law are fulfilled so that accurate, reliable

 2-1     information on the presence and release of toxic and hazardous

 2-2     chemicals is available at the state and local level; now,

 2-3     therefore, be it

 2-4           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-5     hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to conduct a study of

 2-6     the state's implementation of federal requirements for the

 2-7     reporting and public availability of information under the

 2-8     Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986; and, be

 2-9     it further

2-10           RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health submit a full

2-11     report of its findings and recommendations to the 76th Legislature

2-12     when that legislature convenes in January 1999; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

2-14     copy of this resolution to the commissioner of health.