| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the reporting of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus |
|
|
aureus. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 81.0445, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 81.0445. MRSA REPORTING PROCEDURES [PILOT] PROGRAM. |
|
|
(a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
|
|
Commission by rule shall develop and the department shall establish |
|
|
a [pilot] program to research and implement procedures for |
|
|
reporting cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
|
|
(MRSA). A health authority shall not be required to participate in |
|
|
the program. |
|
|
(b) A health authority that participates in the program |
|
|
shall administer the program locally and report to the department |
|
|
as required by this section. [The department shall select to
|
|
|
administer the program a health authority that:
|
|
|
[(1)
demonstrates an interest in hosting the program;
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
[(2)
possesses adequate resources to administer the
|
|
|
program successfully.] |
|
|
(c) The [pilot] program must: |
|
|
(1) require all clinical laboratories, including |
|
|
hospital laboratories and clinical reference laboratories, within |
|
|
the area served by each [the] health authority participating in the |
|
|
program to report all positive cases of methicillin-resistant |
|
|
Staphylococcus aureus to the health authority [pilot] program |
|
|
administrator using automated and secure electronic data |
|
|
transmission; |
|
|
(2) track the prevalence of methicillin-resistant |
|
|
Staphylococcus aureus; |
|
|
(3) evaluate, on a biennial basis, [study] the cost |
|
|
and feasibility of expanding the list of reportable diseases |
|
|
established under this chapter to include methicillin-resistant |
|
|
Staphylococcus aureus; |
|
|
(4) develop a methodology for the electronic exchange |
|
|
of information regarding the occurrence of methicillin-resistant |
|
|
Staphylococcus aureus within the area served by each [the] health |
|
|
authority participating in the program; |
|
|
(5) collect data and analyze findings regarding the |
|
|
prevalence [sources and possible prevention] of |
|
|
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; |
|
|
(6) provide for the reporting to the public by the |
|
|
department of information regarding methicillin-resistant |
|
|
Staphylococcus aureus; and |
|
|
(7) compile and make available to the public a |
|
|
summary[, by location, of the infections reported; and
|
|
|
[(8) make recommendations to the department] |
|
|
regarding Subdivisions (1) through (6) [(7)]. |
|
|
(d) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, |
|
|
[2009,] the department, in consultation with each [the] health |
|
|
authority participating in [administering] the [pilot] program, |
|
|
shall submit to the legislature a report concerning the |
|
|
effectiveness of the [pilot] program [in tracking and reducing the
|
|
|
number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections
|
|
|
within the area served by the health authority]. |
|
|
[(e)
This section expires, and the pilot program is
|
|
|
abolished, September 1, 2009.] |
|
|
SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
|
|
section, this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of |
|
|
two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by |
|
|
Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not |
|
|
receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes |
|
|
effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative |
|
|
session. |
|
|
(b) The change in law made by this Act to Section |
|
|
81.0445(d), Health and Safety Code, takes effect September 1, 2009. |