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AN ACT
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relating to the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and |
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Response. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as amended by |
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S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, |
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is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. TASK FORCE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREPAREDNESS AND |
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RESPONSE |
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Sec. 81.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" |
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means the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and |
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Response. |
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Sec. 81.402. PURPOSE AND FINDINGS. The legislature finds |
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that: |
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(1) infectious diseases are responsible for more |
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deaths worldwide than any other single cause; |
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(2) the State of Texas has a responsibility to |
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safeguard and protect the health and well-being of its citizens |
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from the spread of infectious diseases; |
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(3) on September 30, 2014, the first case of Ebola |
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diagnosed in the United States occurred in Dallas, Texas; |
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(4) addressing infectious diseases requires the |
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coordination and cooperation of multiple governmental entities at |
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the local, state, and federal levels; |
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(5) public health and medical preparedness and |
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response guidelines are crucial to protect the safety and welfare |
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of our citizens; and |
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(6) Texas has nationally recognized infectious |
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disease experts and other highly trained professionals across the |
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state with the experience needed to minimize any potential risk to |
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the people of Texas. |
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Sec. 81.403. TASK FORCE; DUTIES. (a) The Task Force on |
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Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response is created as an |
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advisory panel to the governor. |
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(b) The task force shall: |
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(1) provide expert, evidence-based assessments, |
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protocols, and recommendations related to state responses to |
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infectious diseases, including Ebola; and |
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(2) serve as a reliable and transparent source of |
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information and education for Texas leadership and citizens. |
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Sec. 81.404. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS; TERMS. (a) The |
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governor may appoint members of the task force as necessary, |
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including members from relevant state agencies, members with |
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expertise in infectious diseases and other issues involved in the |
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prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, and members from |
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institutions of higher education in this state. The governor shall |
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appoint to the task force: |
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(1) at least one member who is a county judge of a |
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county with a population of less than 100,000; |
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(2) at least one member who is a county judge of a |
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county with a population of 100,000 or more; |
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(3) at least one member who is a representative of a |
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local health authority serving a rural area; |
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(4) at least one member who is a representative of a |
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local health authority serving an urban area; |
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(5) at least one member who is a licensed nurse; and |
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(6) at least one member who is emergency medical |
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services personnel, as defined by Section 773.003. |
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(b) The governor shall appoint a director of the task force |
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from among the members of the task force. |
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(c) The governor may fill any vacancy that occurs on the |
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task force and may appoint additional members as needed. |
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(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the |
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governor. |
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(e) A state or local employee appointed to the task force |
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shall perform any duties required by the task force in addition to |
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the regular duties of the employee. |
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Sec. 81.405. REPORTS. The task force may make written |
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reports on its findings and recommendations, including legislative |
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recommendations, to the governor and legislature. |
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Sec. 81.406. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at |
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times and locations as determined by the director of the task force. |
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(b) The task force may meet telephonically in accordance |
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with Section 551.125(b)(3), Government Code. |
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(c) The task force may hold public hearings to gather |
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information. The task force shall endeavor to meet in various parts |
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of the state to encourage local input. |
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(d) Notwithstanding Section 551.144, Government Code, or |
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any other law, the task force may hold a closed meeting to discuss |
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matters that are confidential by state or federal law or to ensure |
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public security or law enforcement needs. A closed meeting held as |
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provided by this subsection must be held as otherwise provided by |
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Chapter 551, Government Code. |
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Sec. 81.407. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. State agencies with |
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members on the task force shall provide administrative support for |
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the task force. |
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Sec. 81.408. REIMBURSEMENT. Task force members serve |
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without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for |
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travel expenses. |
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Sec. 81.409. INFECTIOUS DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS |
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FACILITIES AT HEALTH CARE-RELATED INSTITUTIONS. (a) The commission |
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may enter into contracts or agreements to assist in the |
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establishment of infectious disease emergency preparedness |
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facilities at health care-related institutions in this state. The |
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contracts or agreements may provide for payment by the commission |
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to develop and equip infectious disease emergency preparedness |
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facilities at health care-related institutions in this state, as |
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well as for materials, equipment, services, or other items the |
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commission considers necessary to implement this section. |
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(b) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. (a) On the effective date of this Act, a member |
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serving on the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and |
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Response created by executive order of the governor continues to |
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serve on the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and |
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Response under Subchapter J, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act, the governor shall make any appointments to the Task Force on |
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Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response required under |
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Subchapter J, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2950 was passed by the House on May |
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13, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 3, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2950 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2950 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |