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, the Texas
 1-6     Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and The University of
 1-7     Texas School of Public Health at Houston, shall study the health of
 1-8     the residents of this state and develop a strategic health plan for
 1-9     this state.
1-10           (b)  In developing the strategic health plan, the Texas
1-11     Department of Health must examine:
1-12                 (1)  the potential impact of the following on the
1-13     health of the residents of this state:
1-14                       (A)  any increased industrial pollution along the
1-15     region of the state near the border with Mexico;
1-16                       (B)  any decrease in the air quality in this
1-17     state resulting from the increased commerce between this state and
1-18     Mexico;
1-19                       (C)  any increased transmission of communicable
1-20     diseases and any potentially unsafe health practices resulting from
1-21     the increased exchange of goods, services, and people; and
1-22                       (D)  the health problems associated with
1-23     environmental contamination in communities containing or in close
1-24     proximity to state and federal industrial clean-up sites;
1-25                 (2)  the following as related to the increase in trade
 2-1     between Mexico and this state:
 2-2                       (A)  the potential behavioral effects on
 2-3     residents of this state;
 2-4                       (B)  potential environmental changes; and
 2-5                       (C)  potential changes in economic and population
 2-6     growth;
 2-7                 (3)  health care delivery and the access residents of
 2-8     this state have to health care; and
 2-9                 (4)  the organizational infrastructure of the health
2-10     care system.
2-11           (c)  The strategic health plan must outline the steps the
2-12     state should take to address the health needs of the residents of
2-13     this state.
2-14           (d)  The Texas Department of Health shall, not later than
2-15     December 15, 2002, develop the strategic health plan required by
2-16     this Act and file a written report of the plan with the governor,
2-17     the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
2-18     representatives.  The department may combine the plan or the report
2-19     required by this Act with any other plan or report the department
2-20     is required to develop or file under other law.
2-21           SECTION 2.  This Act expires February 1, 2003.
2-22           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-23     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-24     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-25     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-26     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 424 passed the Senate on
         April 5, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present, not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
         amendment on May 14, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0,
         one present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 424 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 8, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 147,
         Nays 0, two present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor