HBA-MPM H.B. 391 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 391 By: Maxey Public Health 2/23/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), epidemiologic research indicates that human milk and breastfeeding of infants, including those who are premature or sick, improves the infant's general health, growth, and development, while significantly reducing risk for a large number of acute and chronic diseases. In some instances, a mother may not be able to breastfeed her child, such as when the mother has used illegal drugs or is taking certain prescription medications, or if the mother has been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or another disease. When direct breastfeeding is not possible, the AAP recommends providing expressed human milk. House Bill 391 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to provide human donor milk to an infant who is hospitalized if prescribed by a doctor. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 391 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to provide donor human milk to a hospitalized infant for whom the milk is prescribed by a physician. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.