BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1373
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Chronic kidney disease is known as a silent disease, leaving many people unaware of the condition until it is too late to slow or arrest irreversible kidney damage. Without early recognition of the symptoms by individuals and by members of the medical profession, the outcome from that damage is certain kidney failure, which in turn leads to a prognosis of either a lifelong need for dialysis, a kidney transplant, or death. As an indicator of the increase in occurrence of chronic kidney disease, the Texas Renal Coalition anticipates that number of dialysis patients in Texas will grow from the 27,000 counted in 2002, to 48,000 by 2010. Currently, there is no coordinated effort to target decrease in the occurrence of chronic kidney disease.
H.B. 1373 creates a chronic kidney disease task force comprised of legislators, physicians, renal care providers, the Department of State Health Services, and patient advocates, to develop a plan to educate certain persons about chronic kidney disease, to promote awareness of chronic kidney disease, and to make recommendations regarding the implementation of a cost-effective plan for early screening, diagnosis, and treatment in Texas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Requires this Act to be known as the Glenda Dawson Act.
SECTION 2. Provides certain findings regarding the treatment of chronic kidney disease by the state.
SECTION 3. Amends Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 98, as follows:
CHAPTER 98. CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE TASK FORCE
Sec. 98.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "department" and "task force."
Sec. 98.002. CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE TASK FORCE. (a) Sets forth the composition and the appointment authority of the chronic kidney disease task force (task force).
(b) Requires the governor to designate a member of the task force (member) to serve as the presiding officer of the task force. Provides that the presiding officer serves at the will of the governor.
(c) Requires appointments to the task force to be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointees.
Sec. 98.003. DUTIES. Sets forth the following duties of the task force:
(1) Requires the task force to develop a plan to educate health care professionals about the advantages and methods of early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease and related complications based on certain guidelines.
(2) Requires the task force to develop a plan to educate health care professionals and individuals with chronic kidney disease about the advantages of end-stage renal disease modality education and certain types of early renal replacement therapies.
(3) Requires the task force to make recommendations on the implementation of a cost-effective plan for early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease for the state's population.
Sec. 98.004. REIMBURSEMENT. Entitles a member, at the discretion of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses of the member in attending task force meetings and performing other official duties authorized by the presiding officer, but not to compensation.
Sec. 98.005. ASSISTANCE. Requires DSHS to provide certain administrative support to the task force.
Sec. 98.006. REPORT. Requires the task force to submit its findings and recommendations to certain elected officials not later than January 1, 2009.
Sec. 98.007. FUNDING. (a) Authorizes the task force, through DSHS, to accept gifts and grants from individuals, private or public organizations, or federal or local funds to support the task force.
(b) Requires DSHS to investigate any potential sources of funding from federal grants or programs.
Sec. 98.008. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
Sec. 98.009. EXPIRATION. Provides that the task force is abolished and that this chapter expires on September 1, 2009.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.