By Jackson                                            S.B. No. 1833
         76R10183 MCK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to disposing of certain waste created by home health
 1-3     providers.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 142, Health and Safety
 1-6     Code, is amended by adding Section 142.020 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 142.020.  DISPOSAL OF SPECIAL OR MEDICAL WASTE.  (a)  A
 1-8     home and community support services agency that generates special
 1-9     or medical waste while providing home health services in the
1-10     client's place of residence or the agency's office location shall
1-11     comply with the rules of the Texas Department of Health relating to
1-12     the disposition of special or medical waste.
1-13           (b)  A home and community support services agency shall
1-14     provide both verbal and written instructions to the agency's client
1-15     regarding the proper procedure for disposing of sharps.  Sharps
1-16     include hypodermic needles; hypodermic syringes with attached
1-17     needles; scalpel blades; razor blades, disposable razors, and
1-18     disposable scissors used in medical procedures; and intravenous
1-19     stylets and rigid introducers.
1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.