HBA-CCH H.B. 1693 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1693 By: Delisi Public Health 3/1/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, local agencies are not required to develop emergency management plans to respond to bioterrorism, which is the intentional release of a harmful bacterium or virus. House Bill 1693 requires local or interjurisdictional agencies and the Texas Department of Health to design a plan in the event of bioterrorism. 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 1693 amends the Government Code to require a local or interjurisdictional agency to specifically provide in its emergency management plan for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation in the event of the intentional release of a harmful bacterium or virus. The bill authorizes the local or interjurisdictional agency to consult with the Texas Department of Health (TDH) in developing these plans. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to require TDH to develop expertise on responding to the intentional release of a harmful virus or bacterium and provide advice to municipalities and counties in their development and implementation of emergency management plans. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.