H.B. No. 1097




AN ACT

relating to the birth defects monitoring program.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 87.021, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection 
(f) to read as follows:
	(a)  The board shall [may] establish in the department a 
program to:
		(1)  identify and investigate certain birth defects in 
children; and        
		(2)  maintain a central registry of cases of birth 
defects.                 
	(c)  The board and the department shall design the program so 
that the program will:
		(1)  provide information to identify risk factors and 
causes of birth defects;
		(2)  provide information on other possible causes of 
birth defects;         
		(3)  provide for the development of strategies to 
prevent birth defects;    
		(4)  provide for interview studies about the causes of 
birth defects;       
		(5)  together with other departmental programs, 
contribute birth defects data to a central registry;
		(6)  provide for the appointment of authorized agents 
to collect birth defects information; and
		(7)  provide for the active [, not passive,] collection 
of birth defects information.
	(f)  In addition to providing for the active collection of 
birth defects information under Subsection (c)(7), the board and 
the department may design the program to also provide for the 
passive collection of that information.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 1097 was passed by the House on May 2, 
2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 126, Nays 0, 2 present, not 
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. 
No. 1097 on May 30, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 0, 
2 present, not voting.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	
I certify that H.B. No. 1097 was passed by the Senate, with 
amendments, on May 28, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 
0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                      Secretary of the Senate   



APPROVED: __________________                                                
 
                Date                                                         




 
         __________________                                              
 
              Governor