TITLE: Relating to the authority of an emergency services district to provide preventive health care services.

SUMMARY: Relating to the authority of an emergency services district to provide preventive health care services.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the authority of an emergency services district to provide preventive health care services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 775.0311 to read as follows: Sec. 775.0311. PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) This section applies to a district that is licensed as or contracts with: (1) an emergency medical services provider under Chapter 773; or (2) a first responder organization under Chapter 773. (b) In this section, "preventive health care services" means out-of-hospital routine health care services, including immunizations, screenings, checkups, and patient counseling, provided for the purpose of preventing illness, disease, or other health problems. (c) A district may provide preventive health care services to reduce reliance on 9-1-1 transports and systems for routine health care and contract with the state or a local government, as provided by Section 775.0366, to provide those services. (d) A reference in this chapter to the district providing emergency services includes preventive health care services. (e) A district may make necessary improvements and adopt rules and regulations for the purposes of this section. (f) A district in a county with a population of less than 60,000 must obtain approval from the county commissioners court prior to providing services under this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.