80R10403 YDB-D
 
  By: Alonzo H.B. No. 246
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to 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)  A health authority each week shall report to the
department's central office all cases reported to the authority
during the previous week of:
             (1)  acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and
             (2)  human immunodeficiency virus infection.
       (d)  A health authority must include in a report filed under
Subsection (c) all 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:
             (1)  the information described by Subsection (b); and
             (2)  the patient's ethnicity, national origin, and city
and county of residence.
       SECTION 3.  Section 81.052, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
       (b)  The department annually shall:
             (1)  compile the information submitted under Section
81.043(c) and [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; and
             (2)  prepare a report on the analysis conducted under
Subdivision (1) and make the report available to the public.
       (b-1)  The department may not include any information that
would allow the identification of an individual in an analysis
conducted under Subsection (b) or in a report prepared under that
subsection.
       SECTION 4.  (a)  Not later than January 1, 2008, 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, 2008.
       SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.