By:  Nelson                                                       S.B. No. 162

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to sanctions imposed against certain facilities by the Texas Department of Health. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 241.053, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 241.053. DENIAL OF APPLICATION, SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, PROBATION, OR REISSUANCE OF LICENSE. SECTION 2. Section 241.053, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows: (f) If the department finds that a hospital is in repeated noncompliance under Subsection (a) but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the hospital for probation rather than suspending or revoking the hospital's license. The department shall provide notice to the hospital of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the hospital will remain under probation. During the probation period, the hospital must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (g) The department may suspend or revoke the license of a hospital that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with the applicable requirements within the applicable probation period. SECTION 3. The heading to Section 243.011, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 243.011. DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. SECTION 4. Section 243.011, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: (c) If the department finds that an ambulatory surgical center is in repeated noncompliance with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the center for probation rather than suspending or revoking the center's license. The department shall provide notice to the center of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the center will remain under probation. During the probation period, the center must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (d) The department may suspend or revoke the license of an ambulatory surgical center that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter within the applicable probation period. SECTION 5. The heading to Section 244.011, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 244.011. DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. SECTION 6. Section 244.011, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: (c) If the department finds that a birthing center is in repeated noncompliance under Subsection (a) but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the center for probation rather than suspending or revoking the center's license. The department shall provide notice to the center of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the center will remain under probation. During the probation period, the center must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (d) The department may suspend or revoke the license of a birthing center that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with the applicable requirements within the applicable probation period. SECTION 7. The heading to Section 245.012, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 245.012. DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. SECTION 8. Section 245.012, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (d) If the department finds that an abortion facility is in repeated noncompliance with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the facility for probation rather than suspending or revoking the facility's license. The department shall provide notice to the facility of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the facility will remain under probation. During the probation period, the facility must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (e) The department may suspend or revoke the license of an abortion facility that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter within the applicable probation period. SECTION 9. The heading to Section 248.051, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 248.051. [LICENSE] DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. SECTION 10. Section 248.051, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: (c) If the department finds that a special care facility is in repeated noncompliance with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the facility for probation rather than suspending or revoking the facility's license. The department shall provide notice to the facility of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the facility will remain under probation. During the probation period, the facility must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (d) The department may suspend or revoke the license of a special care facility that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter within the applicable probation period. SECTION 11. The heading to Section 251.062, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 251.062. DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. SECTION 12. Section 251.062, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: (c) If the department finds that an end stage renal disease facility is in repeated noncompliance with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the facility for probation rather than suspending or revoking the facility's license. The department shall provide notice to the facility of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the facility will remain under probation. During the probation period, the facility must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (d) The department may suspend or revoke the license of an end stage renal disease facility that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter within the applicable probation period. SECTION 13. Subchapter E, Chapter 251, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 251.0621 to read as follows: Sec. 251.0621. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION. The department may issue an emergency order to suspend a license issued under this chapter if the department has reasonable cause to believe that the conduct of a license holder creates an immediate danger to the public health and safety. An emergency suspension is effective immediately without a hearing on notice to the license holder. On written request of the license holder, the department shall conduct a hearing not earlier than the 10th day or later than the 30th day after the date the hearing request is received to determine if the emergency suspension is to be continued, modified, or rescinded. The hearing and any appeal are governed by the department's rules for a contested case hearing and Chapter 2001, Government Code. SECTION 14. The heading to Section 577.016, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 577.016. DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. SECTION 15. Section 577.016, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows: (f) If the department finds that a private mental hospital or mental health facility is in repeated noncompliance under Subsection (a) but that the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety, the department may schedule the hospital or facility for probation rather than suspending or revoking the license of the hospital or facility. The department shall provide notice to the hospital or facility of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the hospital or facility will remain under probation. During the probation period, the hospital or facility must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval. (g) The department may suspend or revoke the license of a private mental hospital or mental health facility that does not comply with the applicable requirements within the applicable probation period. SECTION 16. 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.