SRC-DBM S.B. 1833 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1833
76R10183  MCK-DBy: Jackson
Health Services
4/1/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Department of Health regulates the disposal of
biomedical waste in home health and community support service agencies.
S.B. 1833 would require an agency that generates special or medical waste
while providing home health services in a client's place or residence or
the agency's office location to comply with the rules of the Texas
Department of Health relating to the disposition of special medical waste.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1833 sets forth provisions for disposing of certain waste
created by home health providers. 

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 142A, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
142.020, as follows: 

Sec. 142.020.  DISPOSAL OF SPECIAL OR MEDICAL WASTE.  Requires a home and
community support services agency (agency) that generates special or
medical waste while providing home health services in a client's place or
residence or the agency's office location to comply with the rules of the
Texas Department of Health relating to the disposition of special or
medical waste.  Requires an agency to provide both verbal and written
instructions to the agency's client regarding proper procedure for
disposing of sharps.  Sets forth instruments considered to be sharps. 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.