Bill: SB 969, 87(R) - 2021

Committee

Senate Health and Human Services

2nd Chamber Committee

House Public Health

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral

Author(s)

Lois Kolkhorst

Sponsor(s)

Stephanie Klick

Bill Caption

Relating to reporting procedures for and information concerning public health disasters and to certain public health studies; providing a civil penalty. 

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

The Department of State Health Services is required to implement 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 the Act using other appropriations available for the purpose. 

Bill Analysis

SB 969 would charge the Department of State Health Services to collaborate with local health authorities to standardize information-sharing methods. Hospital trauma information during a public health disaster would become public and be reported to the department and not contain any personally identifiable information. Hospitals would be required to report to the department and the appropriate trauma service area regional advisory council information related to a reportable disease for which a public health disaster is declared. 

The department would then in turn be required to post all collected information publicly to their website in a timely manner. SB 969 would then place a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 on a health care facility for each instance of a failure to report. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 969 would bring transparency to the data reporting process which may improve speed and efficacy in responding to a public health disaster. The bill would also create an unnecessary civil penalty which we recommend be removed. For this reason we remain neutral on SB 969.


Source URL (retrieved on 03/29/2024 06:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/87r/sb969?print_view=true