By Carona                                               S.B. No. 99
         76R2801 CMR-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to testing for accidental exposure to hepatitis B or
 1-3     hepatitis C.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 81.095 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 81.095.  TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE.  (a)  In a
 1-8     case of accidental exposure of a health care worker to blood or
 1-9     other body fluids of a patient in a licensed hospital, the hospital
1-10     may test the patient for hepatitis B or hepatitis C without the
1-11     patient's specific consent to the test.
1-12           (b)  The hospital shall notify the patient and the health
1-13     care worker of the result of the testing.
1-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-15           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.