BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 881

By: Guerra

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, testing for vector-borne infectious diseases in border counties is done between May and November of each year to coincide with warmer months in Texas. However, the southernmost counties in Texas experience a warm climate year-round, which poses a public health concern as this enables mosquitos to breed year-round and outside the historically designated mosquito season. In their 2018 biennial report, the Border Health Task Force recommended expanding mosquito testing and surveillance year-round in the southernmost counties of Texas in order to track and combat local outbreaks of emerging mosquito-borne infectious disease threats.

HB 881 seeks to prevent outbreaks from mosquito-borne infectious diseases throughout the year by expanding mosquito testing and surveillance year-round in the southernmost counties of Texas to track and combat outbreaks of emerging mosquito-borne infectious disease threats. 

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

HB 881 amends the Health and Safety code to require the Department of State Health Services to provide year-round laboratory support for arboviral testing of vector-borne infectious diseases in Texas counties adjacent to the international border with Mexico.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.