These sections implement the provisions of Health and Safety Code, Chapter 87, that provides the authority to adopt rules relating to the surveillance and control of birth defects. The legislation directs the Texas Department of Health to develop a statewide surveillance program. The Texas Department of Health and the Texas Board of Health were abolished by Chapter 198, §§1.18 and 1.26, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003. Health and Safety Code, Chapter 1001, establishes the Department of State Health Services (department), which now administers these programs. Government Code, §531.0055, provides authority to the Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules for the department.

Source Note: The provisions of this §37.301 adopted to be effective October 20, 1994, 19 TexReg 8032; amended to be effective August 28, 2003, 28 TexReg 6854; amended to be effective December 12, 2005, 30 TexReg 8291; amended to be effective November 4, 2009, 34 TexReg 7649