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.