S.B. 864 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 864
By: Van de Putte
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)
     
     

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, physicians licensed to practice in Texas who develop a policy
supporting breast-feeding are not encouraged to designate "breast-feeding
friendly" in promotional materials.  As proposed, S.B. 864 authorizes a
physician licensed to practice in this state to use the designation
"breastfeeding friendly" in promotional materials if the physician
develops a policy supporting breastfeeding and submits that policy to the
Texas Department of Health (TDH). The bill also requires TDH to maintain a
list of such physicians and to make the list available to the public. 

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

SB 864 authorizes a physician licensed to practice in this state to use
the designation "breast-feeding 
friendly" in promotional materials if the physician develops a policy
supporting breast-feeding and submits the policy to TDH.  The bill
requires TDH to maintain a list of "breast-feeding friendly" 
physicians and to make the list available to the public at TDH and on the
Internet.  SB 864 requires TDH to publicize the program to all
obstetricians, pediatricians, family practice physicians, and general
practice physicians who are licensed in this state.  The list of
"breast-feeding friendly" physicians is required to be available no later
than September 1, 2004. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003