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.