SRC-TBR S.B. 424 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 424
77R3948 YDB-DBy: Shapleigh
Business & Commerce
3/19/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Coordinating Council prepares and reviews a proposed
state health plan every six years and updates the plan biennially.  This
plan focuses on the status of the health care workforce and does not
address other significant public health issues resulting from the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  As proposed, S.B. 424 directs the
Texas Department of Health and other health related agencies and
institutions to develop a state strategic health plan and to recommend
action that is necessary to address the public health concerns resulting
from increased trade due to NAFTA. 

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.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Health (department), with
assistance from the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) and
the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, to study the
health of the residents of this state and develop a strategic health plan
for this state. 

(b)  Requires in developing the strategic health plan, the department to
examine: 

(1) the increased industrial pollution along the region of the state near
the border with Mexico, any decrease in the air quality in this state
resulting from the increased commerce between this state and Mexico, and
the increased transmission of communicable diseases and any related unsafe
health practices resulting from the increased exchange of goods, services
and people. 

(2) the following as related to the increase in trade between Mexico and
this State; the behavioral effects on residents of this state,
environmental changes and economic growth. 

(3) health care delivery and the access residents of this state have to
health care; and  

  (4) the organizational infrastructure of the health care system.

(c)  Requires the strategic health plan to outline the steps the state
should take to address the health needs of the residents of this state. 

(d)  Requires the department, not later than December 15, 2002, to develop
the strategic health plan required by this Act and file a written report of
the plan with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the
house of representatives. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act expires February 1, 2003.
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.