|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
|
|
relating to the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and |
|
Response. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as amended by |
|
S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, |
|
is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER J. TASK FORCE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREPAREDNESS AND |
|
RESPONSE |
|
Sec. 81.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" |
|
means the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and |
|
Response. |
|
Sec. 81.402. TASK FORCE; DUTIES. (a) The Task Force on |
|
Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response is created as an |
|
advisory board to the department. |
|
(b) The task force shall: |
|
(1) provide expert, evidence-based assessments, |
|
protocols, and recommendations related to state responses to |
|
infectious diseases, including Ebola, and a strategic emergency |
|
management plan for state and local levels of government; |
|
(2) develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that Texas |
|
is prepared for the potential of widespread outbreak of infectious |
|
diseases, such as the Ebola virus, and can provide rapid response |
|
that effectively protects the safety and well-being of citizens of |
|
this state; |
|
(3) evaluate the supplies and resources available to |
|
address an infectious disease outbreak; and |
|
(4) serve as a reliable and transparent source of |
|
information and education for Texas leadership and citizens. |
|
(c) In developing the plan described by Subsection (b)(2), |
|
the task force shall: |
|
(1) use the significant expertise of medical |
|
professionals in Texas and other states; |
|
(2) collaborate with local government officials and |
|
local health officials; |
|
(3) use, as practicable, the Texas Emergency |
|
Preparedness Plan and structure; |
|
(4) identify various responses necessary in the event |
|
of an epidemic of infectious disease; |
|
(5) establish a command and control structure that |
|
will ensure effective preparations and response if the governor |
|
takes emergency action under Chapter 418, Government Code, or other |
|
law; and |
|
(6) coordinate with appropriate entities to ensure |
|
public awareness and education regarding any pandemic threat. |
|
Sec. 81.403. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS; TERMS. (a) The |
|
commissioner may appoint members of the task force as necessary, |
|
including members from relevant state agencies, members with |
|
expertise in infectious diseases and other issues involved in the |
|
prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, and members from |
|
institutions of higher education in this state. The commissioner |
|
shall appoint to the task force: |
|
(1) at least one member who is a representative of a |
|
local health authority serving a rural area; |
|
(2) at least one member who is a representative of a |
|
local health authority serving an urban area; |
|
(3) at least one member who is a licensed physician; |
|
(4) at least one member who is a licensed nurse; |
|
(5) at least one member who is emergency medical |
|
services personnel, as defined by Section 773.003; and |
|
(6) at least one member representing a hospital. |
|
(b) The commissioner shall appoint a director of the task |
|
force from among the members of the task force. |
|
(c) The commissioner may fill any vacancy that occurs on the |
|
task force and may appoint additional members as needed. |
|
(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the |
|
commissioner. |
|
(e) A state or local employee appointed to the task force |
|
shall perform any duties required by the task force in addition to |
|
the regular duties of the employee. |
|
Sec. 81.404. REPORTS. (a) The task force shall report to |
|
the department, governor, legislature, Texas Medical Board, and any |
|
relevant medical associations as often as necessary to make |
|
recommendations for updating protocols for addressing infectious |
|
diseases. |
|
(b) The task force shall make written reports on its |
|
findings and recommendations, including legislative |
|
recommendations, to the department, governor, and legislature on |
|
December 1 of each even-numbered year. |
|
Sec. 81.405. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at |
|
times and locations as determined by the director of the task force. |
|
(b) The task force may meet telephonically in accordance |
|
with Section 551.125(b)(3), Government Code. |
|
(c) The task force may hold public hearings to gather |
|
information. The task force shall endeavor to meet in various parts |
|
of the state to encourage local input. |
|
(d) Notwithstanding Section 551.144, Government Code, or |
|
any other law, the task force may hold a closed meeting to discuss |
|
matters that are confidential by state or federal law or to ensure |
|
public security or law enforcement needs. A closed meeting held as |
|
provided by this subsection must be held as otherwise provided by |
|
Chapter 551, Government Code. |
|
Sec. 81.406. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. State agencies with |
|
members on the task force shall provide administrative support for |
|
the task force. |
|
Sec. 81.407. REIMBURSEMENT. Task force members serve |
|
without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for |
|
travel expenses. |
|
Sec. 81.408. INFECTIOUS DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS |
|
FACILITIES AT HEALTH CARE-RELATED INSTITUTIONS. (a) If the task |
|
force adopts a comprehensive plan under Section 81.402, the |
|
commission may enter into contracts or agreements to assist in the |
|
establishment of infectious disease emergency preparedness |
|
facilities at health care-related institutions in this state, |
|
consistent with the comprehensive plan, if the task force finds |
|
that the contracts or agreements are necessary to implement the |
|
comprehensive plan. The contracts or agreements may provide for |
|
payment by the commission to develop and equip infectious disease |
|
emergency preparedness facilities, consistent with the |
|
comprehensive plan, at health care-related institutions in this |
|
state, as well as for materials, equipment, services, or other |
|
items the commission considers necessary to implement this section. |
|
(b) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
|
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
of this Act, the commissioner of state health services shall make |
|
appointments to the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness |
|
and Response required under Subchapter J, Chapter 81, Health and |
|
Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 3. 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 September 1, 2015. |