SRC-VRA H.B. 1097 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1097 78R11681 DLF-FBy: Capelo (Gallegos) Health & Human Services 5/17/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas has a successful birth defects registry program. H.B. 1097 strengthens the registry by requiring its existence, rather than authorizing it. 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. Amends Section 87.021(a) and (c), Health and Safety Code, to require, rather than authorize, the Texas Board of Health (board) to establish in the Texas Department of Health (TDH) a program to identify and investigate certain birth defects in children, and maintain a central registry of cases of birth defects. Requires the board and TDH to design the program so that the program will provide for the active or passive collection of birth defects information. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.