78R11681 DLF-F


By:  Capelo                                                       H.B. No. 1097

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1097:                                   

By:  Truitt                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 1097



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the birth defects monitoring program.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Sections 87.021(a) and (c), Health and Safety 
Code, are amended 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 or[, not] passive[,] 
collection of birth defects 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.