By:  Shapleigh                                         S.B. No. 424
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a state strategic health plan.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Department of Health, with
 1-5     assistance from the Health and Human Services Commission and The
 1-6     University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, shall study
 1-7     the health of the residents of this state and develop a strategic
 1-8     health plan for this state.
 1-9           (b)  In developing the strategic health plan, the Texas
1-10     Department of Health must examine:
1-11                 (1)  the impact of the following on the health of the
1-12     residents of this state:
1-13                       (A)  the increased industrial pollution along the
1-14     region of the state near the border with Mexico;
1-15                       (B)  any decrease in the air quality in this
1-16     state resulting from the increased commerce between this state and
1-17     Mexico; and
1-18                       (C)  the increased transmission of communicable
1-19     diseases and any related unsafe health practices resulting from the
1-20     increased exchange of goods, services, and people;
1-21                 (2)  the following as related to the increase in trade
1-22     between Mexico and this state:
1-23                       (A)  the behavioral effects on residents of this
1-24     state;
1-25                       (B)  environmental changes; and
 2-1                       (C)  economic and population growth;
 2-2                 (3)  health care delivery and the access residents of
 2-3     this state have to health care; and
 2-4                 (4)  the organizational infrastructure of the health
 2-5     care system.
 2-6           (c)  The strategic health plan must outline the steps the
 2-7     state should take to address the health needs of the residents of
 2-8     this state.
 2-9           (d)  The Texas Department of Health shall, not later than
2-10     December 15, 2002, develop the strategic health plan required by
2-11     this Act and file a written report of the plan with the governor,
2-12     the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
2-13     representatives.
2-14           SECTION 2.  This Act expires February 1, 2003.
2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-16     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-17     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-18     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-19     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.