HBA-NRS S.B. 531 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 531
By: Nelson
Public Health
5/7/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Each year thousands of adults suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital,
and approximately 95 percent of those adults die, in many cases because
defibrillation occurs too late to reverse the cardiac arrest. For every
minute that passes before returning the heart to a normal rhythm after
cardiac arrest, as one would do by delivering an electric shock to the
heart using an automated external defibrillator (AED), the chance of
survival is decreased by 10 percent. Recently, Houston developed a plan for
the placement of AEDs in its municipal facilities, and the American Heart
Association advocates the placement of AEDs in public buildings to increase
the cardiac arrest survival rate. Senate Bill 531 directs the Texas
Department of Health to conduct a study regarding the placement of AEDs in
state buildings. 

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

Senate Bill 531 requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) in
consultation with the General Services Commission (GSC) to conduct a study
regarding the purchase and placement of automated external defibrillators
(AEDs) in buildings owned or leased by the state. The bill requires TDH to
estimate the extent to which placing AEDs in state buildings would improve
the survival rate of individuals who experience sudden cardiac arrest in a
state building. The bill requires TDH, in consultation with GSC to study in
which buildings it would  be advisable to place AEDs, the cost of the
placement of AEDs, the best methods for integrating AEDs with existing
emergency medical services, the need for and the cost of training state
personnel in the use of AEDs. The bill requires TDH to report the results
of its study together with any recommendations of TDH or GSC to the
governor and the presiding officers of each house of the legislature not
later than November 1, 2002. The bill expires June 1, 2003.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.