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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of certain funding formulas and policies |
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and to certain public health evaluations by the Department of State |
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Health Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 1001.078 and 1001.079 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 1001.078. FUNDING FORMULA; PUBLIC HEALTH EVALUATION. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Health service region" means a public health |
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region designated under Section 121.007. |
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(2) "Local health department" means a local health |
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department established under Subchapter D, Chapter 121. |
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(3) "Local health unit" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 121.004. |
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(4) "Public health district" means a health district |
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established under Subchapter E, Chapter 121. |
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(b) The department, in collaboration with the Public Health |
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Funding and Policy Committee established under Section 117.051, |
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shall: |
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(1) develop funding formulas for federal and state |
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funds appropriated to the department to be allocated to local |
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health departments, local health units, public health districts, |
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and health service regions' regional headquarters, based on |
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population, population density, disease burden, social |
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determinants of health, local efforts to prevent disease, and other |
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relevant factors as determined by the department and committee; |
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(2) evaluate the feasibility and benefits of placing a |
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cap on the percentage of public health funds that can be used on |
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administrative costs at local health departments, local health |
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units, public health districts, and health service regions' |
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regional headquarters; and |
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(3) evaluate public health functions provided by the |
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department, local health departments, local health units, public |
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health districts, and health service regions' regional |
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headquarters and determine if another entity, including a private |
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entity, can provide those functions more effectively. |
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Sec. 1001.079. PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT POLICY. (a) In this |
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section, "local health department" means a local health department |
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established under Subchapter D, Chapter 121. |
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(b) The department shall create a policy to allow a local |
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health department flexibility, to the extent allowed under federal |
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law, in the use of personnel and other resources during disaster |
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response activities, outbreaks, and other appropriate public |
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health threats. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2014, the Department of |
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State Health Services shall: |
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(1) develop the funding formulas required by |
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Subdivision (1), Subsection (b), Section 1001.078, Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act; |
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(2) submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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the speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate |
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standing committees of the legislature a report on the findings |
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required by Subdivisions (2) and (3), Subsection (b), Section |
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1001.078, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(3) create the policy required by Section 1001.079, |
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Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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* * * * * |