BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 703

By: Rose

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Over one million older adults suffer from falls in Texas alone, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of which result in moderate to serious injury requiring hospitalization or placement in a nursing home. Research suggests that fall prevention education can reduce the incidence of falls by 30 to 50 percent.

H.B. 703 declares the week that begins on the first Sunday of each year that falls after the date of the autumnal equinox as "Fall Prevention Awareness Week" to increase fall prevention education.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 703 amends the Human Resources Code to declare the week that begins on the first Sunday of each year that falls after the date of the autumnal equinox "Fall Prevention Awareness Week." The bill authorizes the Department of Aging and Disability Services to develop recommendations to raise public awareness about preventing falls among older Texans; educate older adults and individuals who provide care to older adults about reducing the incidence and risk of falls among older adults; encourage state and local governments and the private sector to promote policies and programs that help reduce the incidence and risk of falls among older adults; encourage area agencies on aging to include fall prevention education in their services; develop a system for reporting falls to improve available information on falls; and incorporate fall prevention guidelines into state and local planning documents that affect housing, transportation, parks, recreational facilities, and other public facilities.

H.B. 703 sets forth legislative findings relating to the incidence of falls among older adults in Texas and the benefits of fall prevention programs.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.