AN ACT
 1-1     relating to testing for accidental exposure to hepatitis B or
 1-2     hepatitis C.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code,
 1-5     is amended by adding Section 81.095 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 81.095.  TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE.  (a)  In a
 1-7     case of accidental exposure of a health care worker to blood or
 1-8     other body fluids of a patient in a licensed hospital, the
 1-9     hospital, following a report of the exposure incident, shall take
1-10     reasonable steps to test the patient for hepatitis B or hepatitis
1-11     C.  A test conducted under this section may be performed without
1-12     the patient's specific consent.
1-13           (b)  The facility shall have a policy concerning the
1-14     disclosure of the result of the testing as authorized or required
1-15     by law.
1-16           (c)  The facility shall abide by all patient confidentiality
1-17     standards as set out in Section 81.046.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-19           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 99 passed the Senate on
         February 25, 1999, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate
         concurred in House amendments on May 25, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 99 passed the House, with
         amendments, on May 22, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor