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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a state plan for Streptococcus |
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pneumoniae education and prevention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 94A to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 94A. STATE PLAN FOR STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE; EDUCATION |
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AND PREVENTION PROGRAM |
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Sec. 94A.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "department" |
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means the Department of State Health Services. |
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Sec. 94A.002. STATE PLAN FOR STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE. (a) |
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The department, using existing resources and programs to the extent |
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possible, shall develop a state plan for prevention and treatment |
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of diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The plan must |
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include strategies for prevention and treatment of diseases caused |
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by Streptococcus pneumoniae in specific demographic groups that are |
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disproportionately affected by the diseases, including elderly |
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persons, children under two years of age, persons living in |
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long-term care facilities, persons with a chronic heart or lung |
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disease, smokers, and persons with asplenia. |
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(b) In developing the plan, the department shall seek the |
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input of: |
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(1) the public, including members of the public who |
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have had diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae; |
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(2) each state agency that provides services to |
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persons infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae or the functions of |
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which otherwise involve diseases caused by Streptococcus |
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pneumoniae, including any appropriate health and human services |
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agency described by Section 531.001, Government Code, the Employees |
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Retirement System of Texas, and the Teacher Retirement System of |
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Texas; |
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(3) any advisory body that addresses issues related to |
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diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae; |
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(4) public advocates concerned with issues related to |
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diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae; |
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(5) providers of services to persons with diseases |
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caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae; and |
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(6) any statewide professional associations of |
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physicians. |
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(c) The department shall update the state plan developed |
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under this section at least once every five years and may update the |
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state plan biennially. |
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Sec. 94A.003. STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE EDUCATION AND |
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PREVENTION PROGRAM. (a) The department shall develop a program to |
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heighten awareness and enhance knowledge and understanding of |
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Streptococcus pneumoniae. |
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(b) The program developed under Subsection (a) must require |
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the department to: |
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(1) conduct health education, public awareness, and |
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community outreach activities to promote public awareness and |
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knowledge about the risk factors for, the value of early detection |
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of, available screening services for, and the options available for |
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the treatment of diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae; and |
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(2) post on the department's Internet website the |
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options available for the prevention, treatment, and detection of |
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diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and information on the |
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risk factors for, method of transmission of, and value of early |
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detection of the diseases. |
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(c) The department, using existing resources, may include |
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in the program developed under Subsection (a) a study to estimate |
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the current and future impact of diseases caused by Streptococcus |
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pneumoniae on this state. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |