Sec. 1001.071. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT RELATED TO HEALTH CARE. (a) The department is the state agency with primary responsibility to administer or provide health services, including:

(1) disease prevention;

(2) health promotion;

(3) indigent health care;

(4) certain acute care services;

(5) licensing of certain health professions; and

(6) other health-related services as provided by law.

(b) The department is responsible for administering human services programs regarding the public health, including:

(1) implementing the state's public health care delivery programs under the authority of the department;

(2) administering state health facilities, hospitals, and health care systems;

(3) developing and providing health care services, as directed by law;

(4) providing for the prevention and control of communicable diseases;

(5) providing public education on health-related matters, as directed by law;

(6) compiling and reporting health-related information, as directed by law;

(7) acting as the lead agency for implementation of state policies regarding the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and administering programs related to the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;

(8) investigating the causes of injuries and methods of prevention;

(9) administering a grant program to provide appropriated money to counties, municipalities, public health districts, and other political subdivisions for their use to provide or pay for essential public health services;

(10) administering the registration of vital statistics;

(11) licensing, inspecting, and enforcing regulations regarding health facilities, other than long-term care facilities regulated by the Department of Aging and Disability Services;

(12) implementing established standards and procedures for the management and control of sanitation and for health protection measures;

(13) enforcing regulations regarding radioactive materials;

(14) enforcing regulations regarding food, drugs, cosmetics, and health devices;

(15) enforcing regulations regarding food service establishments, retail food stores, mobile food units, and roadside food vendors;

(16) enforcing regulations controlling hazardous substances in households and workplaces; and

(17) implementing a mental health program for veterans.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 1.09.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 352 (H.B. 2392), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0005(a), eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0005(b), eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 838 (S.B. 202), Sec. 3.020, eff. September 1, 2015.