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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to limitations on public health directives issued during a |
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state of disaster or outbreak of a communicable disease. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.0165 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.0165. PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTIVES. During a state of |
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disaster declared by the governor, if the governor issues a public |
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health directive as the governor determines necessary to address |
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the disaster, the directive must not be more stringent than any |
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public health directive for undocumented immigrants issued by |
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United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.016. PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTIVES. If the department |
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or a health authority issues a public health directive under this |
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chapter as the department or health authority determines necessary |
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to address an outbreak of a communicable disease or public health |
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disaster, the directive may not be more stringent than any public |
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health directive for undocumented immigrants issued by United |
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States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a directive issued on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |