79R2187 YDB-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 1619



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to quarterly reports on cases of acquired immune 
deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus infection.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 81.043, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and 
(d) to read as follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a [A] health 
authority shall report reportable diseases to the department's 
central office at least as frequently as the interval set by board 
rule.
	(c)  At the end of each calendar quarter a health authority 
shall report to the department's central office all cases of 
acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency 
virus infection that are reported to the authority during that 
quarter.
	(d)  A health authority must include in a report filed under 
Subsection (c) all the information required by the department for 
purposes of this section or other law, including:
		(1)  an infected person's city and county of residence, 
age, gender, race, ethnicity, and national origin; and
		(2)  the method by which the disease was transmitted.                  
	SECTION 2.  Section 81.044, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  For a case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome or 
human immunodeficiency virus infection, the department shall 
require the reports to contain the information described by 
Subsection (b) and in addition the patient's ethnicity, national 
origin, and city and county of residence.
	SECTION 3.  Section 81.052(b), Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(b)  At the end of each calendar quarter, the [The] 
department shall [routinely] analyze and determine trends in 
incidence and prevalence of AIDS and HIV infection by region, city, 
county, age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin,
transmission category, and other factors as appropriate.  The 
department shall each calendar quarter prepare a report on the 
analysis conducted under this subsection and make the report 
available to the public.
	SECTION 4.  (a)  Not later than January 1, 2006, the executive 
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall 
adopt the rules and procedures necessary to comply with Chapter 81, 
Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Sections 81.043, 81.044, and 81.052, 
Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, a health authority 
and the Department of State Health Services are not required to 
comply with the changes in law made to these sections before January 
1, 2006.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.