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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reporting of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus |
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aureus. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.0445, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.0445. MRSA REPORTING PROCEDURES [PILOT] PROGRAM. |
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(a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission by rule shall develop and the department shall establish |
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a [pilot] program to research and implement procedures for |
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reporting cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
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(MRSA). A health authority shall not be required to participate in |
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the program. |
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(b) A health authority that participates in the program |
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shall administer the program locally and report to the department |
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as required by this section. [The department shall select to
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administer the program a health authority that:
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[(1)
demonstrates an interest in hosting the program;
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and
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[(2)
possesses adequate resources to administer the
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program successfully.] |
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(c) The [pilot] program must: |
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(1) require all clinical laboratories, including |
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hospital laboratories and clinical reference laboratories, within |
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the area served by each [the] health authority participating in the |
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program to report all positive cases of methicillin-resistant |
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Staphylococcus aureus to the health authority [pilot] program |
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administrator using automated and secure electronic data |
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transmission; |
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(2) track the prevalence of methicillin-resistant |
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Staphylococcus aureus; |
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(3) evaluate, on a biennial basis, [study] the cost |
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and feasibility of expanding the list of reportable diseases |
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established under this chapter to include methicillin-resistant |
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Staphylococcus aureus; |
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(4) develop a methodology for the electronic exchange |
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of information regarding the occurrence of methicillin-resistant |
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Staphylococcus aureus within the area served by each [the] health |
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authority participating in the program; |
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(5) collect data and analyze findings regarding the |
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prevalence [sources and possible prevention] of |
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methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; |
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(6) provide for the reporting to the public by the |
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department of information regarding methicillin-resistant |
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Staphylococcus aureus; and |
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(7) compile and make available to the public a |
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summary[, by location, of the infections reported; and
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[(8) make recommendations to the department] |
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regarding Subdivisions (1) through (6) [(7)]. |
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(d) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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[2009,] the department, in consultation with each [the] health |
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authority participating in [administering] the [pilot] program, |
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shall submit to the legislature a report concerning the |
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effectiveness of the [pilot] program [in tracking and reducing the
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number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections
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within the area served by the health authority]. |
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[(e)
This section expires, and the pilot program is
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abolished, September 1, 2009.] |
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SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of |
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two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by |
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Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not |
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receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes |
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effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative |
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session. |
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(b) The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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81.0445(d), Health and Safety Code, takes effect September 1, 2009. |