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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of the Task Force on Infectious Disease |
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Preparedness and Response. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.401, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.401. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus |
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disease. |
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(2) "Task [, "task] force" means the Task Force on |
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Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. |
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SECTION 2. Section 81.403, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.403. TASK FORCE; DUTIES. (a) The Task Force on |
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Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response is created as an |
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advisory panel to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(b) The task force shall: |
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(1) provide expert, evidence-based assessments, |
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protocols, and recommendations related to state responses to |
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infectious diseases, including Ebola and COVID-19; and |
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(2) serve as a reliable and transparent source of |
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information and education for Texas leadership and citizens. |
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SECTION 3. Section 81.405, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.405. REPORTS. (a) The task force may make written |
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reports on its findings and recommendations, including legislative |
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recommendations, to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the |
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legislature. |
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(b) Not later than the second anniversary of the date a |
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public health disaster is declared, the task force shall: |
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(1) evaluate the state's preparedness and response to |
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the public health disaster; and |
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(2) submit a written report to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and each member of the legislature containing the task force's |
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findings and recommendations, including any legislative |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |