SRC-JEC S.B. 1285 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1285 78R5382 DLF-DBy: Gallegos Health & Human Services 4/30/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas has a successful birth defects registry program. As proposed, S.B. 1285 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), Health and Safety Code, to require, rather than authorize, the Texas Board of Health to establish in the Texas Department of Health a program to identify and investigate certain birth defects in children, and maintain a central registry of cases of birth defects. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.