86R12088 LED-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 1124
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishment of a border public health response team.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter X to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER X. BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TEAM
         Sec. 161.701.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Border county" means a county adjacent to the
  international border with Mexico.
               (2)  "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section
  418.004, Government Code.  The term includes a state of disaster
  declared by:
                     (A)  the president of the United States under the
  Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
  U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.);
                     (B)  the governor under Section 418.014,
  Government Code; or
                     (C)  the presiding officer of the governing body
  of a political subdivision under Section 418.108, Government Code.
               (3)  "Response team" means the border public health
  response team established under Section 161.702.
               (4)  "Sanitarian" has the meaning assigned by Section
  1953.001, Occupations Code.
         Sec. 161.702.  BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TEAM. The
  department shall establish a border public health response team to
  deploy in response to public health threats declared by the
  commissioner and declared disasters in border counties. 
         Sec. 161.703.  COMPOSITION OF RESPONSE TEAM. The response
  team may be composed of the following members appointed by the
  commissioner:
               (1)  an epidemiologist;
               (2)  a sanitarian;
               (3)  a nurse; 
               (4)  a public health specialist; and
               (5)  any other person the commissioner considers
  appropriate. 
         Sec. 161.704.  DEPARTMENT DUTIES. (a)  The department, in
  consultation with the response team, shall, as necessary, enter
  into memoranda of understanding with other state agencies to
  develop policies, plans, and procedures to facilitate an effective
  response to a declared public health threat or disaster.
         (b)  The department shall provide, or contract to provide,
  training, equipment, and support staff to the response team to
  enhance the team's response efforts, as appropriate. 
         Sec. 161.705.  RESPONSE TEAM DUTIES. During a declared
  public health threat or disaster in a border county, the response
  team shall, as appropriate:
               (1)  assess health infrastructure and response
  capabilities for the threat or disaster in a border county;
               (2)  develop appropriate responses for the threat or
  disaster in a border county; and
               (3)  address language, cultural, and environmental
  factors that are unique to responding to the threat or disaster in a
  border county.
         Sec. 161.706.  FUNDING. (a)  The department shall
  coordinate with the commission, the office of the governor, the
  federal government, and any other appropriate entity for funding to
  support the response team's activities.
         (b)  The department may accept on behalf of the response team
  a gift, grant, or donation from any source to carry out the purposes
  of this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2019, the Department
  of State Health Services shall establish the border public health
  response team as required by Subchapter X, Chapter 161, Health and
  Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.