BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1119

By: Lucio

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the higher rate of obesity in border counties adjacent to Mexico than in non-border counties and the related adverse health impact on morbidity and mortality rates for cardiovascular disease, asthma, and cancer. S.B. 1119 seeks to implement certain recommendations for the state to improve its efforts in addressing obesity-related diseases by requiring the Department of State Health Services to develop a border public health initiative to reduce the adverse health impacts of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity for adults and children in border counties.

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

S.B. 1119 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to develop an initiative to reduce the adverse health impacts of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity for adults and children in border counties. The initiative must promote:

·         educational resources designed to prevent those conditions;

·         screenings of persons at risk for those conditions; and

·         referrals to and treatment by health care providers for those conditions.

The bill identifies the entities with which DSHS may consult and collaborate in developing the border public health initiative and requires DSHS, in implementing the initiative, to conduct bilingual, culturally appropriate outreach campaigns in consultation and collaboration with appropriate individuals and entities as specified by the bill.

S.B. 1119 requires DSHS, not later than January 1, 2023, to prepare and electronically submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature a report describing health outcomes and health care savings resulting from prevention, screenings, and treatment of chronic diseases under the border public health initiative and other relevant findings, as determined by DSHS, resulting from the initiative. The bill's provisions expire December 31, 2031.

S.B. 1119 establishes that DSHS is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose and if not, that DSHS may, but is not required to, implement such a provision using other appropriations available for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.