80R1435 YDB-D

By: Alonzo H.B. No. 246

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 reported to the authority during that quarter 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(b), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) At the end of each calendar quarter, the [The] department shall:

(1) [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.

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.