HBA-CCH H.B. 1509 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1509
By: Yarbrough
Business & Industry
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law entitles a public safety employee who is exposed to a
contagious disease to reimbursement for reasonable medical expenses in the
treatment for the prevention of a disease or condition caused by the
exposure.  For example, current law provides for preventive immunizations
and vaccinations for fire fighters, peace officers, and emergency medical
personnel.  Public safety employees may also be exposed to hazardous
material that cause disease, but current law does not entitle them to
reimbursement of medical expenses for preventive treatment when exposed to
hazardous materials.  House Bill 1509 entitles public safety employees to
reimbursement for reasonable medical expenses for the prevention of
conditions caused by exposure to hazardous materials.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1509 amends the Government Code to entitle a public safety
employee who is exposed to a hazardous material to reimbursement from the
employing governmental entity for reasonable medical expenses incurred in
the treatment for the prevention of the conditions caused by exposure to
the hazardous material if: 

 _the exposure to the hazardous material occurs during the course of the
employment; and 
 
 _the employee requires preventive medical treatment because of the
exposure to the hazardous material. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.