87R2962 SRA-D

By: Oliverson H.B. No. 780

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a bone marrow donor recruitment program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 53 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 53. BONE MARROW DONOR RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

Sec. 53.001. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish a bone marrow donor recruitment program to educate residents of this state about:

(1) the need for bone marrow donors, including the particular need for donors from minority populations;

(2) the requirements for registering with a national bone marrow donor registry as a potential bone marrow donor, including procedures for determining an individual's tissue type;

(3) the medical procedures an individual must undergo to donate bone marrow or other sources of blood stem cells; and

(4) the availability of information about bone marrow donation in health care facilities, blood banks, and driver's license offices.

(b) The commission shall develop written or printable informational materials on bone marrow donation and registration with a national bone marrow donor registry that appropriate health care facilities, blood banks, and driver's license offices may place in their facilities, banks, or offices to provide to residents of this state.

(c) The commission shall post the informational materials on the commission's Internet website and may develop press, radio, and television materials to spread awareness of the bone marrow donor recruitment program.

Sec. 53.002. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission, in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature a report regarding the bone marrow donor recruitment program established under Section 53.001 that includes an evaluation on the effectiveness of the recruitment program and the number of individuals from this state who have registered with a national bone marrow donor registry as a result of the program.

(b) This section expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 2. Section 521.0063, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 521.0063. INFORMATION ON BONE MARROW DONATION. (a) The department shall:

(1) [may] make available to each person applying for an original or renewal driver's license written or printable informational materials regarding bone marrow donation and registration with a national bone marrow donor registry; and

(2) place signage in each [, in a publicly accessible area of a] driver's license office notifying applicants of the availability of the written or printable [,] informational materials [and videos] on bone marrow donation and registration with a national bone marrow donor registry [that are developed by an appropriate entity, as determined by the department].

(b) The department shall use written or printable informational materials developed by the Health and Human Services Commission under Section 53.001, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall develop the informational materials as required by Section 53.001, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.