By:  Shapleigh                                        S.B. No. 1857
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the study of barriers to the binational exchange of
 1-2     health information.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Department of Health shall study
 1-5     state laws inhibiting the:
 1-6                 (1)  exchange of information on disease and
 1-7     epidemiological reporting between Texas and the United Mexican
 1-8     States; and
 1-9                 (2)  cross-border exchange of equipment and personnel
1-10     to provide technical assistance and to enhance the capacity of
1-11     Texas and the United Mexican States to obtain and exchange the
1-12     information.
1-13           (b)  The Texas Department of Health may appoint an advisory
1-14     committee under Chapter 2110, Government Code, to assist it to
1-15     perform its duties under this Act.
1-16           (c)  Not later than January 15, 2001, the Texas Department of
1-17     Health shall issue a report describing the department's
1-18     recommendations to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
1-19     house of representatives.
1-20           (d)  This section expires September 1, 2001.
1-21           SECTION 2.  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.