SRC-CTC S.B. 338 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 338
By: Madla
Health & Human Services
6/8/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, it is estimated that four million Americans, or 1.8 percent of
the population, are infected with Hepatitis C.  It is also estimated that
350,000 Texans are infected with the virus.  H.B. 1652 was passed last
session and directed the Texas Department of Health to conduct studies,
develop education and training materials, and establish testing sites for
Hepatitis C.  However, a more comprehensive approach allows Texas to
address this public health issue in the long term.  S.B. 338 directs the
Texas Department of Health to develop a State Plan for Hepatitis C in order
to respond comprehensively to Hepatitis C in this state. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Redesignates and amends Chapter 93, Health and Safety Code, as
added by Chapter 823, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,
as Chapter 94, Health and Safety Code, as follows: 

CHAPTER 94. New Heading: STATE PLAN FOR HEPATITIS C; EDUCATION AND
PREVENTION PROGRAM 

Sec. 94.001. STATE PLAN FOR HEPATITIS C.  Requires the Texas Department of
Health (department) to develop a state plan for the prevention and
treatment of Hepatitis C.  Requires that the plan include strategies for
prevention and treatment of specific groups of people. Requires the
department to seek input from certain people and groups in formulating the
plan. Requires the department to update the plan biennially and file the
plan, not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, with the
governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives. 

Redesignates Sections 93.001 - 93.003 as Sections 94.002 - 94.004,
respectively, and amends as follows: 

Sec. 94.002.  Authorizes the department, in developing the prevention
program required by this section, to forecast the economic and clinical
impacts of hepatitis C and the impact of hepatitis C on quality of life.
Authorizes the department to develop the forecasts in conjunction with an
academic medical center ora nonprofit institution with experience using
disease management prospective modeling and simulation techniques. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 301G, Occupations Code, by adding Section
301.304, as follows: 

Sec. 301.304.  HEPATITIS C COMPONENT IN CONTINUING EDUCATION. Requires a
license holder, as part of any continuing education requirements under
Section  301.303, to participate in not less than two hours of continuing
education relating to hepatitis C. Provides that this section applies only
to a license holder who renews a license on or after June 1, 2002.
Requires the Board of Nurse Examiners to recognize, prepare, or administer
a hepatitis C training component for use in continuing education for
license holders under this section.  Requires the training component to
provide information relating to the prevention, assessment, and treatment
of hepatitis C.  Provides that this section expires June 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective to June 1, 2002.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.