C.S.H.B. 1097 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1097
By: Capelo
Public Health
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Birth Defects Monitoring Division was established within TDH in
1994 as mandated by the Texas Birth Defects Act of 1993.  Its mission is
to identify and describe the patterns of birth defects in Texas and
collaborate with others in prevention initiative, research, and referral
of families into services.  Over 50,000 medical charts are reviewed
annually to yield approximately 11,000 cases with one or more major
malfunction.    Current language allows TDH to operate a Birth Defects
registry, but does not require that they operate one.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

Requires the Board of Health to establish a birth defects monitoring
program to identify and investigate certain birth defects in children and
create a registry to track birth defects. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if this Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original in that it adds language that
allows TDH to collect birth defects information with either an active or
passive system of collection.