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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an assessment of certain public health data reporting |
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systems and implementation of public health data reporting |
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requirements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.0445 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.0445. PUBLIC HEALTH DATA STUDY AND REPORTING |
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REQUIREMENTS. (a) For purposes of this section, "coronavirus |
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disease public health emergency" applies to the period: |
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(1) beginning on January 31, 2020, the date the United |
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States secretary of health and human services declared a public |
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health emergency under Section 319, Public Health Service Act (42 |
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U.S.C. Section 247d), with respect to the coronavirus disease |
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(COVID-19); and |
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(2) ending on the earlier of: |
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(A) the date the public health emergency |
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described by Subdivision (1) ends; or |
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(B) January 1, 2023. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) conduct a study on: |
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(A) the system used by this state for reporting |
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public health data to the federal government during the coronavirus |
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disease public health emergency; and |
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(B) the system used by persons required to report |
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under this chapter, including local health authorities, for |
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reporting public health data to this state during the coronavirus |
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public health emergency; and |
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(2) conduct a comparative analysis of the systems |
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described by Subdivision (1) and generally recognized and accepted |
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methods for public health data reporting. |
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(c) Based on the results of the study and analysis conducted |
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under Subsection (b), the department, using evidence-based, |
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standardized data reporting methods, shall: |
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(1) develop a uniform set of public health data |
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reporting requirements for this state, local health authorities, |
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and any other persons required to report under this chapter, to use |
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during a public health disaster declared under this chapter or a |
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state of disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code; and |
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(2) periodically update the reporting requirements as |
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necessary to address advancements in technology and |
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communications. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall conduct |
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the study and analysis required by Section 81.0445, Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act, and develop the public health |
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data reporting requirements under that section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |