1-1 By: Moncrief S.B. No. 1403
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 1997; March 19, 1997, read
1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services;
1-4 April 18, 1997, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 1; April 18, 1997,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1403 By: Moncrief
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to the establishment and funding of a blindness education,
1-11 screening, and treatment program.
1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13 SECTION 1. Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
1-14 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 91.027. BLINDNESS EDUCATION, SCREENING, AND TREATMENT
1-16 PROGRAM [PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS AND CONSERVATION OF EYESIGHT].
1-17 (a) The commission shall develop a Blindness Education, Screening,
1-18 and Treatment Program to provide blindness prevention education and
1-19 to provide screening and treatment [take measures it considers
1-20 advisable] to prevent blindness for residents who are not covered
1-21 under an adequate health benefit plan [and to conserve eyesight].
1-22 (b) The program shall include:
1-23 (1) public education about blindness and other eye
1-24 conditions;
1-25 (2) screenings and eye examinations to identify
1-26 conditions that may cause blindness; and
1-27 (3) treatment procedures necessary to prevent
1-28 blindness.
1-29 (c) The commission by rule shall prescribe eligibility
1-30 requirements for the program.
1-31 SECTION 2. Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended
1-32 by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-33 (f) The department shall collect an additional fee of $1 for
1-34 the issuance or renewal of a license to fund the Blindness
1-35 Education, Screening, and Treatment Program established under
1-36 Section 91.027, Human Resources Code.
1-37 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
1-38 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-39 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-40 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-41 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-42 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-43 * * * * *