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


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1097
78R16507 DLF-F
By:  Capelo (Gallegos) 

Health & Human Services 
5/21/2003

Committee Report (Substituted) 

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas has a successful birth defects registry program.
C.S.H.B. 1097 strengthens the registry by requiring its existence, rather
than authorizing it.  This bill also provides for both active and passive
collection of birth defects information. 

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, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (f), as follows: 

(a)  Requires, rather than authorizes, 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.   

(c)  Requires the board and TDH to design the program so that the program
will provide for the active collection of birth defects information.
Makes a conforming change.  

(f)  Authorizes the board and TDH, in addition to providing for the active
collection of birth defects information under Subsection (c)(7), to design
the program to also provide for the passive collection of that
information. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.