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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a sanitarian recruitment and |
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retention program in border counties for public health purposes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 121, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 121.0055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 121.0055. SANITARIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION |
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PROGRAM IN BORDER COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a |
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local health unit, local health department, or public health |
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district that is: |
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(1) located in a county along the international border |
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with Mexico; and |
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(2) affiliated with the department under Section |
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121.005. |
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(b) To the extent funds are available, the department shall |
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develop a program under which the department: |
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(1) provides grants to local health units, local |
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health departments, and public health districts to improve |
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recruitment and retention of sanitarians registered under Chapter |
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1953, Occupations Code; and |
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(2) expands opportunities for training and |
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registration of sanitarians to improve disease response and prevent |
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foodborne, waterborne, vector-borne, and zoonotic diseases. |
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(c) The department shall administer the grant program |
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described by Subsection (b) in coordination with local health |
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units, local health departments, public health districts, and |
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appropriate state agencies, federal agencies, nonprofit |
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organizations, public and private hospitals, institutions of |
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higher education, and other private entities. |
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(d) The department may provide a grant under Subsection (b) |
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only in accordance with a contract between the department and the |
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recipient. The contract must include provisions under which the |
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department is granted sufficient control to ensure the public |
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purpose of improved public health is accomplished and the state |
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receives the return benefit. |
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(e) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations to operate the program established under this section. |
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The department shall coordinate with appropriate state agencies, |
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federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, public and private |
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hospitals, institutions of higher education, and other private |
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entities in identifying and soliciting funding to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. The Department of State Health Services is |
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required to implement a provision of this Act only if the |
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legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If |
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the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a |
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provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |