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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prevention of and response to communicable diseases in |
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certain long-term care facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subdivision (4-a) and adding Subdivision (4-b) |
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to read as follows: |
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(4-a) "Long-term care facility" means a facility |
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licensed or regulated under Chapter 242, 247, or 252. |
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(4-b) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by |
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Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. The term includes a |
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sheriff or constable. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 81.014 and 81.015 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 81.014. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY COMMUNICABLE DISEASE |
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RESPONSE PLAN. Each long-term care facility shall develop a plan |
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for preventing and responding to outbreaks of communicable |
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diseases, including influenza. The plan must include: |
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(1) surveillance for key infectious agents, |
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including multidrug-resistant organisms; and |
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(2) procedures for making rapid influenza diagnostic |
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tests available to facility residents. |
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Sec. 81.015. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP REGIONAL ADVISORY |
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COMMITTEES. (a) The department shall establish a regional |
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advisory committee in each public health region designated under |
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Section 121.007 to monitor antimicrobial stewardship in long-term |
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care facilities. |
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(b) A regional advisory committee established under this |
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section must include members who are physicians and members who are |
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public health officials. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0053 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.0053. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY IMMUNIZATION |
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INFORMATION. (a) In this section, "long-term care facility" means |
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a facility licensed or regulated under Chapter 242, 247, or 252. |
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(b) A long-term care facility shall provide educational |
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materials to facility employees regarding: |
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(1) immunizations, including the risks posed to |
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facility residents by employees who are not immunized; and |
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(2) the availability of specific immunizations. |
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(c) A long-term care facility shall provide, on request, |
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current influenza and pneumococcal vaccination data of the |
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facility's personnel to a public health official, facility |
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resident, and resident's family member. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |