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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prevention of communicable diseases in certain |
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long-term care facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subdivision (4-a) and adding Subdivision (4-b) |
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to read as follows: |
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(4-a) "Long-term care facility" means a facility |
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licensed or regulated under Chapter 242, 247, or 252. |
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(4-b) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by |
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Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. The term includes a |
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sheriff or constable. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 81.014 and 81.015 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 81.014. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY INFECTION PREVENTION |
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AND CONTROL PROGRAM. (a) Each long-term care facility's infection |
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prevention and control program must include: |
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(1) monitoring of key infectious agents, |
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including multidrug-resistant organisms; |
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(2) procedures for communicating the presence of |
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multidrug-resistant organism infections when admitting a resident |
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to or transferring a resident from the facility; and |
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(3) procedures for making rapid influenza diagnostic |
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tests available to facility residents. |
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(b) Subject to the confidentiality requirements of this |
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chapter, the commission shall ensure that each long-term care |
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facility's infection prevention and control program includes a |
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requirement for the facility to report to the health authority or |
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the department when two or more confirmed cases of influenza occur |
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among facility residents within a 72-hour period. |
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Sec. 81.015. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP REGIONAL ADVISORY |
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COMMITTEES. (a) The department shall establish a regional |
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advisory committee in each public health region designated under |
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Section 121.007 to address antimicrobial stewardship in long-term |
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care facilities and to improve antimicrobial stewardship through |
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collaborative action. |
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(b) A regional advisory committee established under this |
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section must include: |
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(1) physicians; |
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(2) directors of nursing or equivalent consultants |
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with long-term care facilities; |
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(3) public health officials knowledgeable about |
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antimicrobial stewardship; and |
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(4) other interested parties. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |