By: White, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Schwertner) H.B. No. 639
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 2021;
  May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Local
  Government; May 22, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0;
  May 22, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 639 By:  Menéndez
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the authority of an emergency services district to
  provide preventive health care services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 775.0311 to read as follows:
         Sec. 775.0311.  PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) This
  section applies to a district that is licensed as or contracts with:
               (1)  an emergency medical services provider under
  Chapter 773; or
               (2)  a first responder organization under Chapter 773.
         (b)  In this section, "preventive health care services" 
  means out-of-hospital routine health care services, including
  immunizations, screenings, checkups, and patient counseling,
  provided for the purpose of preventing illness, disease, or other
  health problems.
         (c)  A district may provide preventive health care services
  to reduce reliance on 9-1-1 transports and systems for routine
  health care and contract with the state or a local government, as
  provided by Section 775.0366, to provide those services.
         (d)  A reference in this chapter to the district providing
  emergency services includes preventive health care services.
         (e)  A district may make necessary improvements and adopt
  rules and regulations for the purposes of this section.
         (f)  A district in a county with a population of less than
  60,000 must obtain approval from the county commissioners court
  prior to providing services under this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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