S.B. 401 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 401
By: Van de Putte
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, licensed hospitals are required to test patients for hepatitis
B or C following accidental 
exposure of a health care worker to a patient's blood or other body
fluids. As proposed, this bill  
clarifies that in the case of accidental exposure of a health care worker,
the employing organization or the organization for which the person works
as a volunteer is responsible for paying the cost of the test, not the
person exposed. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.095(b), Health and Safety Code, to delete
language referencing the person exposed as a person responsible for paying
the costs of a test for hepatitis B or hepatitis C. 

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

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