BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3704

By: Thompson, Senfronia

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that affiliated local health units, local health departments, and public health districts have a need to obtain certain health data from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in order to provide proper and necessary public health services to their local communities. However, DSHS is currently precluded from sharing this information. H.B. 3704 seeks to provide for certain data sharing.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3704 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to enter into a memorandum of understanding and data use agreement with an affiliated local health unit, local health department, or public health district that provides essential public health services for the purpose of sharing relevant public health data maintained by DSHS in a manner consistent with federal and state law. The bill requires an affiliated local health unit, local health department, or public health district seeking public health data only for research purposes to submit a request to the DSHS institutional review board for review and approval of the request.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.