1-1     By:  Deshotel (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief)             H.B. No. 2759
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 1999;
 1-3     May 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
 1-4     Services; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the prostate cancer education program.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  Section 91.001, Health and Safety Code, is
1-11     amended to read as follows:
1-12           Sec. 91.001.  FINDINGS.  The legislature finds that:
1-13                 (1)  prostate cancer is a major public health problem
1-14     with an estimated 13,000 Texans to be diagnosed each year resulting
1-15     in over 2,200 Texans dying each year;
1-16                 (2)  African Americans have the highest incidence of
1-17     prostate cancer in the state;
1-18                 (3)  early detection through annual checkups and
1-19     testing are critical to the preservation of life and to health care
1-20     strategies for those at  risk of prostate cancer; and
1-21                 (4) [(3)]  it is in the public interest of this state
1-22     to promote public awareness of the benefits and value of the early
1-23     detection,  prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.
1-24           SECTION 2.  Section 91.002, Health and Safety Code, is
1-25     amended to read as follows:
1-26           Sec. 91.002.  PROSTATE CANCER STRATEGY.  (a)  In consultation
1-27     with the board, the commissioner shall develop and implement a
1-28     program that educates the public on the causes of prostate cancer
1-29     and the factors associated with the development of prostate cancer.
1-30     This program must include components designed to reach high-risk
1-31     populations that reflect the nature of and trends in prostate
1-32     cancer morbidity and mortality rates in high-risk groups in this
1-33     state.
1-34           (b)  The program shall also publicize the value and methods
1-35     of early detection and prevention and identify the options
1-36     available for  treatment.
1-37           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
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                                  * * * * *