|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the establishment of a sanitarian recruitment and |
|
retention program in border counties for public health purposes. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 121, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 121.0055 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 121.0055. SANITARIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION |
|
PROGRAM IN BORDER COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a |
|
local health unit, local health department, or public health |
|
district that is: |
|
(1) located in a county adjacent to the international |
|
border with Mexico; and |
|
(2) affiliated with the department under Section |
|
121.005. |
|
(b) To the extent money is available, the department shall |
|
establish a program to: |
|
(1) provide grants to local health units, local health |
|
departments, and public health districts to improve recruitment and |
|
retention of sanitarians registered under Chapter 1953, |
|
Occupations Code; and |
|
(2) expand opportunities for training and |
|
registration of sanitarians to improve disease response and prevent |
|
foodborne, waterborne, vector-borne, and zoonotic diseases. |
|
(c) The department shall administer the grant program in |
|
coordination with local health units, local health departments, |
|
public health districts, and appropriate state agencies, federal |
|
agencies, nonprofit organizations, public and private hospitals, |
|
institutions of higher education, and other private entities. |
|
(d) The department may award a grant under Subsection (b) |
|
only in accordance with a contract between the department and the |
|
grant recipient. The contract must include provisions affording |
|
the department sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of |
|
improved public health is accomplished and this state receives a |
|
return benefit from the grant recipient. |
|
(e) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
|
donations to operate the grant program. The department shall |
|
coordinate with appropriate state agencies, federal agencies, |
|
nonprofit organizations, public and private hospitals, |
|
institutions of higher education, and other private entities in |
|
identifying and soliciting funding to implement this section. |
|
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. |