87R2923 RDS-D
 
  By: Thierry H.B. No. 1922
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a state plan for responding to pandemics.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 418.0423 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.0423.  PANDEMIC RESPONSE PLAN. (a)  In this
  section, "pandemic" means an emerging infectious disease threat
  that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
         (b)  The division shall prepare and keep current a pandemic
  response plan. The plan may include provisions for:
               (1)  consulting infectious disease experts regarding:
                     (A)  risk assessment;
                     (B)  identification of the pathogen; and
                     (C)  key questions about the pathogen that may
  affect the size, scale, and design of the response;
               (2)  preventing and minimizing injury and damage caused
  by a pandemic;
               (3)  prompt and effective response to a pandemic;
               (4)  emergency relief;
               (5)  identifying areas and populations particularly
  vulnerable to the occurrence of a pandemic;
               (6)  communicating with governmental and private
  entities, including entities listed in Section 418.051, to
  facilitate coordination and collaboration for the efficient and
  effective planning and execution of a pandemic response plan;
               (7)  organizing federal, state, and local pandemic
  response activities;
               (8)  assisting local officials in designing local
  pandemic response plans;
               (9)  preparing and distributing to appropriate state
  and local officials catalogs of federal, state, and private
  assistance programs; and
               (10)  other necessary matters relating to pandemics.
         (c)  In preparing and revising the pandemic response plan,
  the division shall seek the assistance of:
               (1)  any necessary federal, state, or local
  governmental entity;
               (2)  medical experts specializing in infectious
  disease; and
               (3)  community leaders and business, labor,
  agriculture, civic, and volunteer organizations.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.