BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1681
85R8118 AJZ-D	By: Lucio
	Intergovernmental Relations
	4/28/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Public health officials contend there is a need to have increased communication and collaboration between local and state public health officials. This collaboration can lead to a more efficient use of local and state resources in order to better handle health risks and challenges affecting the Lower Rio Grande Valley region.

Overall, S.B. 1681 establishes the framework for a communicable disease and public health center in Hidalgo County to address the communicable disease and public health challenges of the international border region. The center would enable the state to maximize the use of local resources, develop a unified message, and reduce duplication of staff resources. Additionally, the center would foster a greater local and regional capacity to better address diseases, such as the Zika virus and the Chikungunya virus. S.B. 1681 would allow the border region as well as Texas to capitalize on the expertise of local health professionals and other departments to better serve the border communities and this state.

Specifically, S.B. 1681 would provide central vector control resources to the region, help with local surveillance of diseases, serve for outreach and response campaigns to address communicable diseases, and provide local, regional, and international health-related briefings. Additionally, S.B. 1681 would enable health care professionals to receive current information and would facilitate information sharing between cities, counties, and countries.

As proposed, S.B. 1681 amends current law relating to the establishment of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Center.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Sets forth the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter K, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER

Sec. 81.451. DEFINITION. Defines "center."

Sec. 81.452. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO ESTABLISH CENTER. Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a county located on an international border that has a population of at least 700,000 and that has as its county seat a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 to establish and jointly operate a Communicable Disease and Public Health Center (center).

SEC. 81.453. DONATION OF LAND. Authorizes the governing body of a county described by Section 81.452, or a municipality in that county, to donate real property to DSHS for the center. Authorizes the donation to be in fee simple or otherwise.

Sec. 81.454. ASSISTANCE FROM MUNICIPALITY. Authorizes the local health department of a county that enters into a memorandum of understanding under Section 81.452 to seek the assistance of a municipality in the local health department's jurisdiction to establish and operate the center.

Sec. 81.455. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER. (a) Requires that the center:

(1) provide a central repository of vector control resources for municipalities in a county described by Section 81.452 and counties adjacent to that county;

(2) develop local surveillance, outreach, and response campaigns to address communicable disease and potential vectors of communicable disease;

(3) provide local, regional, and international health-related briefings;

(4) cooperate with local, regional, state, and international officials to increase environmental awareness to reduce sources for vector development and develop recommendations for implementing nuisance abatement policies;

(5) with the assistance of appropriate authorities, facilitate trapping, adulticiding, and larviciding of vector populations along the international border;

(6) provide to health care professionals current information, including health advisories and guidance with communicable disease case management, regarding communicable disease and potential vectors of communicable disease;

(7) in cooperation with federal and international partners, educate and provide health care screenings to populations at high risk of contracting a communicable disease that are traditionally difficult to contact, including individuals not lawfully present in the United States; and

(8) facilitate information sharing between local entities.

(b) Requires that a local campaign developed under Subsection (a)(2) be in both English and Spanish.

(c) Authorizes the center to serve as a call center for concerns regarding communicable disease and public health along the international border.

(d) Requires a local health department in each county adjacent to an international border to report to the center information regarding incidents of communicable disease in the county, public health challenges in the county, and any other public health or communicable disease issue, as required by DSHS.

(e) Requires the local health department of a county that enters into a memorandum of understanding under Section 81.452 to collaborate with the local health department of each adjoining county and meet with a representative of each local health department described by Subdivision (1) at least monthly to discuss the health status of each county and address the occurrence and control of communicable disease in each county.

SECTION 3. �Effective date: September 1, 2017.