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.