By:  Madla                                                        S.B. No. 1069
	(In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2005; March 21, 2005, read 
first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; 
April 18, 2005, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 
Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 18, 2005, 
sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1069                                   By:  Nelson


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to organizing certain data collected by the Department of 
State Health Services.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 104, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 104.044 to read as follows:
	Sec. 104.044.  SORTING COLLECTED DATA.  (a)  The department 
shall compile the health data collected under this subchapter and 
organize the results, to the extent possible, according to the 
following geographic areas:
		(1)  the Texas-Mexico border region;                                   
		(2)  each public health region;                                        
		(3)  rural areas;                                                      
		(4)  urban areas;                                                      
		(5)  each county; and                                                  
		(6)  the state.                                                        
	(b)  Health data released under this subchapter must be 
released in accordance with the way it is compiled under this 
section.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 191, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 191.008 to read as follows:
	Sec. 191.008.  SORTING COLLECTED DATA.  (a)  The department 
shall compile the information relating to births, deaths, and fetal 
deaths collected under this chapter and organize the results, to 
the extent possible, according to the following geographic areas:
		(1)  the Texas-Mexico border region;                                   
		(2)  each public health region;                                        
		(3)  rural areas;                                                      
		(4)  urban areas;                                                      
		(5)  each county; and                                                  
		(6)  the state.                                                        
	(b)  The department may release the information relating to 
births, deaths, and fetal deaths in accordance with the way it is 
compiled under this section.
	SECTION 3.  The Department of State Health Services shall 
consult with a group of affected persons and entities to define 
rural and urban areas for purposes of Sections 104.044 and 191.008, 
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, including:
		(1)  individuals with expertise in rural health 
services research, epidemiology, rural public health services 
delivery, demography, health planning, and large data sets; and
		(2)  representatives from universities, the Department 
of State Health Services, the Office of Rural Community Affairs, 
area health education centers, and local and county health 
departments.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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