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AN ACT
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relating to fall prevention awareness. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS |
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Sec. 161.151. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds |
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that: |
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(1) in 2008, 1.14 million older Texans were expected |
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to sustain falls; |
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(2) the risk factors associated with falling increase |
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with age; |
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(3) approximately 20 to 30 percent of older adults who |
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fall suffer moderate to severe injuries, resulting in almost 80,000 |
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hospitalizations annually and constituting 40 percent of all |
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nursing home placements; |
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(4) according to the Centers for Disease Control of |
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the United States Public Health Service, the total direct cost of |
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all fall-related injuries in 2000 for people 65 years of age and |
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older exceeded $19 billion nationwide; and |
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(5) research shows that a well-designed fall |
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prevention program that includes risk factor assessments, a focused |
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physical activity program, and improvement of the home environment |
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can reduce the incidence of falls by 30 to 50 percent. |
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Sec. 161.152. FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK. The week |
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that begins on the first Sunday of each year that falls after the |
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date of the autumnal equinox is declared "Fall Prevention Awareness |
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Week." |
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Sec. 161.153. FALL PREVENTION POLICY. The department may |
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develop recommendations to: |
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(1) raise public awareness about fall prevention; |
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(2) educate older adults and individuals who provide |
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care to older adults about best practices to reduce the incidence |
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and risk of falls among older adults; |
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(3) encourage state and local governments and the |
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private sector to promote policies and programs that help reduce |
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the incidence and risk of falls among older adults; |
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(4) encourage area agencies on aging to include fall |
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prevention education in their services; |
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(5) develop a system for reporting falls to improve |
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available information on falls; and |
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(6) incorporate fall prevention guidelines into state |
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and local planning documents that affect housing, transportation, |
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parks, recreational facilities, and other public facilities. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 703 was passed by the House on April |
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2, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 703 was passed by the Senate on May |
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12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |