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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disaster-related responsibilities of certain state |
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agencies in health care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.049 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.049. TRACKING SYSTEM. (a) The division shall |
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develop and adopt a statewide emergency management tracking system |
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to assist agencies in the coordination of emergency evacuations. |
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(b) A system adopted under this section must: |
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(1) permit emergency management agencies of this state |
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and political subdivisions of this state to post and view |
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information; |
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(2) permit patient tracking during an emergency |
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evacuation; |
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(3) include pertinent data on evacuees, including: |
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(A) whether an evacuee is a known criminal or sex |
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offender; |
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(B) whether an evacuee has any injuries or |
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medical conditions; and |
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(C) the number of evacuees an emergency |
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evacuation shelter or other facility should expect to receive, as |
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well as an expected time of arrival; and |
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(4) maintain updated information on emergency |
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evacuation shelters and other facilities, including: |
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(A) the capability of a shelter or facility to |
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provide appropriate services to certain evacuees, such as the |
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elderly, the disabled, or other evacuees with special needs; and |
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(B) the number of openings available at the |
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shelter or facility. |
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(c) The division shall integrate emergency management |
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tracking systems maintained by political subdivisions of this state |
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with the system developed by the division under this section. A |
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political subdivision that maintains such a tracking system shall |
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cooperate with the division as necessary to comply with this |
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subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 782 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 782. HEALTH CARE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 782.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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418.004, Government Code. |
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Sec. 782.002. RULES. The executive commissioner of the |
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Health and Human Services Commission may adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this chapter. |
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[Sections 782.003-782.050 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER B. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS |
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Sec. 782.051. PATIENT EVACUATION STANDARDS. (a) The |
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department shall develop standards for the transfer of pertinent |
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medical information of a patient who has been admitted to a facility |
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or is homebound and who is evacuating because of a disaster. |
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(b) Standards developed under this section must address a |
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variety of facilities that admit patients, including hospitals, |
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nursing homes, group homes, and mental health facilities. |
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Sec. 782.052. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLANS. (a) The |
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department, in cooperation with the division of emergency |
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management in the office of the governor, shall develop continuity |
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of operations plans to address essential department functions in |
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the event of a disaster, including: |
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(1) delegation of authority within the department; |
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(2) orders of succession within the department; and |
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(3) designation of alternate department facilities. |
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(b) The department shall ensure that a continuity of |
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operations plan developed under this section is adequately tested |
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and shall conduct training and other exercises in the |
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implementation of the plan. |
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Sec. 782.053. VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT. The department, in |
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conjunction with stakeholders and organizations that possess |
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volunteer lists, shall develop a method for placing volunteer |
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licensed health care professionals with appropriate service |
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providers to address health care needs in the event of a disaster. |
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Sec. 782.054. RESOURCE PLACEMENT. (a) The department, in |
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conjunction with stakeholders, shall develop a protocol for the |
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distribution of health care resources, including locally held |
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assets, in the event of a disaster. |
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(b) In preparing for a disaster, the department shall |
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evaluate the cost and benefit of pre-positioning medical supplies |
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and other items geographically throughout the state. |
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Sec. 782.055. EVACUATION OF SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION. The |
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department shall, in conjunction with stakeholders, develop |
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protocols to be implemented to facilitate the emergency evacuation |
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of individuals with special needs. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |