1-1     By:  Shapleigh                                         S.B. No. 424
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed January 26, 2001; January 29, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce;
 1-4     March 26, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
 1-5     Nays 0; March 26, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to a state strategic health plan.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Department of Health, with
1-11     assistance from the Health and Human Services Commission and The
1-12     University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, shall study
1-13     the health of the residents of this state and develop a strategic
1-14     health plan for this state.
1-15           (b)  In developing the strategic health plan, the Texas
1-16     Department of Health must examine:
1-17                 (1)  the impact of the following on the health of the
1-18     residents of this state:
1-19                       (A)  the increased industrial pollution along the
1-20     region of the state near the border with Mexico;
1-21                       (B)  any decrease in the air quality in this
1-22     state resulting from the increased commerce between this state and
1-23     Mexico; and
1-24                       (C)  the increased transmission of communicable
1-25     diseases and any related unsafe health practices resulting from the
1-26     increased exchange of goods, services, and people;
1-27                 (2)  the following as related to the increase in trade
1-28     between Mexico and this state:
1-29                       (A)  the behavioral effects on residents of this
1-30     state;
1-31                       (B)  environmental changes; and
1-32                       (C)  economic and population growth;
1-33                 (3)  health care delivery and the access residents of
1-34     this state have to health care; and
1-35                 (4)  the organizational infrastructure of the health
1-36     care system.
1-37           (c)  The strategic health plan must outline the steps the
1-38     state should take to address the health needs of the residents of
1-39     this state.
1-40           (d)  The Texas Department of Health shall, not later than
1-41     December 15, 2002, develop the strategic health plan required by
1-42     this Act and file a written report of the plan with the governor,
1-43     the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
1-44     representatives.
1-45           SECTION 2.  This Act expires February 1, 2003.
1-46           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-47     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-48     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-49     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-50     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-51                                  * * * * *