BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3673

By: Johnson, Jarvis

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The CDC estimates over 100,000 Americans suffer from sickle cell disease (SCD). While the exact number is unknown because there is no national data collection system that exists for SCD, the population estimation mainly comes from newborn screening and life expectancy data, which is not as accurate as registry data. Sickle cell disease is three times more prevalent than any other rare inherited disorder. It has been noted that Texas does not currently have a registry surveillance system for SCD and relies on estimations, a practice that is not ideal for public health policy. H.B. 3673 seeks to address this issue by providing for the creation of a SCD registry, which will produce robust data for Texans who suffer from this debilitating disease and contribute to the national awareness of the overall burden of SCD.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3673 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to establish and maintain a registry of individuals diagnosed with sickle cell disease for use as a single repository of accurate, complete records to aid in the cure and treatment of sickle cell disease in Texas. With regard to the registry, the bill does the following:

· requires the registry to include a record of individuals in Texas who have been diagnosed with the disease and other information regarding these individuals that the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission considers necessary and appropriate for inclusion;

· requires a health care facility, as defined by the bill, to provide to DSHS, in the form and manner prescribed by DSHS, data regarding individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease;

· requires the executive commissioner to develop by rule certain guidelines regarding obtaining and disclosing the information regarding these individuals and protecting their confidentiality;

· requires DSHS to publish an annual report to the legislature of the information obtained for the registry; and

· authorizes DSHS, in cooperation with other sickle cell disease reporting organizations and research institutions, to publish reports DSHS determines are necessary to carry out the registry's purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.