HBA-JRA H.B. 1530 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1530 By: Wilson Public Health 4/6/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hospital employees are surrounded by contaminants that are absorbed into their clothing. These contaminants may then be transferred to public places and pose a potential health risk. H.B. 1530 prohibits an employee of a hospital or a member of the medical staff from wearing any item of surgical attire or a hospital uniform on the premises of a food-related business. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Board of Health in SECTION 1 (Section 241.105, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 241.105, as follows: Section 241.105. SURGICAL ATTIRE AND HOSPITAL UNIFORMS PROHIBITED ON PREMISES OF CERTAIN BUSINESSES. (a) Defines "food-related business" and "surgical attire" in this section. (b) Prohibits an employee of a hospital or a member of the medical staff from wearing any item of surgical attire or a hospital uniform on the premises of a food-related business. (c) Authorizes an employee of a hospital or a member of the medical staff to wear an item of surgical attire or a hospital uniform on the premises of a food-related business if necessary to respond to a medical emergency. (d) Requires the Texas Board of Health (board) to adopt rules to enforce this section. SECTION 2. (a) Effective date: September 1, 1999. Provides that this Act applies only to the wearing of surgical attire or hospital uniforms on or after January 1, 2000. (b) Requires the board to adopt rules under Section 241.105, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, by December 31, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.