AN ACT
 1-1     relating to disposing of certain waste created by home health
 1-2     providers.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 142, Health and Safety
 1-5     Code, is amended by adding Section 142.020 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 142.020.  DISPOSAL OF SPECIAL OR MEDICAL WASTE.  (a)  A
 1-7     home and community support services agency that generates special
 1-8     or medical waste while providing home health services must dispose
 1-9     of the waste in the same manner that the home and community support
1-10     services agency disposes of special or medical waste generated in
1-11     the agency's office location.
1-12           (b)  A home and community support services agency shall
1-13     provide both verbal and written instructions to the agency's client
1-14     regarding the proper procedure for disposing of sharps.  Sharps
1-15     include hypodermic needles; hypodermic syringes with attached
1-16     needles; scalpel blades; razor blades, disposable razors, and
1-17     disposable scissors used in medical procedures; and intravenous
1-18     stylets and rigid introducers.
1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24     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. 1833 passed the Senate on
         April 19, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1833 passed the House on
         May 26, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor