87R1479 KKR-D
 
  By: Lucio III H.B. No. 728
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to public health laboratory testing capabilities in
  certain counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 12, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 12.0725, 12.073, and 12.074 to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 12.0725.  PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY REPORT. (a) Not
  later than September 1, 2022, the department shall prepare and
  submit a written or electronic report to the legislature on public
  laboratories in counties adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border. The
  report must include:
               (1)  information on the existing testing capabilities
  of the public laboratories, focusing on clinical, environmental,
  and zoonotic testing capabilities; and
               (2)  recommendations to increase the efficiency,
  effectiveness, and productivity of the public laboratories through
  administrative action and legislation.
         (b)  The department shall collaborate with local health
  departments established under Subchapter D, Chapter 121, and public
  and private testing laboratories to collect information and develop
  recommendations for the report.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         Sec. 12.073.  LOCAL AGREEMENTS TO INCREASE LABORATORY
  TESTING. (a) Using available resources and as the department
  determines appropriate, the department shall enter into agreements
  with institutions of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
  Education Code, and public and private testing laboratories in this
  state to increase the availability of public health laboratory
  testing services for local health departments established under
  Subchapter D, Chapter 121, in counties adjacent to the Texas-Mexico
  border.
         (b)  The agreements must establish protocols that:
               (1)  ensure confidentiality of the laboratory testing;
               (2)  require the testing procedures to satisfy state
  standards for laboratory testing;
               (3)  provide cost-effective resources to local health
  departments to increase the availability of laboratory testing in
  border counties;
               (4)  enhance the laboratory testing capacity,
  including testing of human and nonhuman specimens, in border
  counties; and
               (5)  ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and
  accuracy of laboratory test results.
         Sec. 12.074.  YEAR-ROUND ACCESS TO LABORATORY TESTING FOR
  VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES. (a) Using available resources
  and as the department determines appropriate, the department shall
  support access to year-round laboratory testing for vector-borne
  and zoonotic diseases to record and address local outbreaks of
  vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in border counties that are most
  at risk for the year-round outbreaks, including Maverick, Val
  Verde, Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron Counties.
         (b)  The department may directly authorize access to the
  testing or may enter into a local agreement under Section 12.073 to
  authorize access to the testing. The testing may include, as
  appropriate:
               (1)  arboviral testing;
               (2)  speciation testing;
               (3)  PCR testing;
               (4)  IgM testing;
               (5)  IgG testing; and
               (6)  any other testing the department determines
  appropriate.
         SECTION 2.  The Department of State Health Services is
  required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
  legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
  the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a
  provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.