KOLKHORST DRAFTS COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

  

State Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst of Brenham, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services has filed a legislative package to improve the state's COVID-19 pandemic response, calling for more transparency and increased legislative oversight for any future event.

Senate Bill 966 establishes a new legislative oversight board to be used when any "public health disaster" is declared.

Senate Bill 967 offers similar oversight at a local level, requiring the approval of locally elected officials (municipal or county) to grant permission for a local public health authority to continue past the first initial eight days from when an order is issued.

Senate Bill 968 modernizes and streamlines the state's response to any future public health disaster or emergency.  It requires new planning and preparation requirements, defines the expected roles of health and disaster related agencies during a pandemic, and clarifies the specific and limited powers of the Commissioner of State Health Services.

Similarly, Senate Bill 969 provides increased transparency for the data that is both reported to the state, and by the state.

And, Senate Bill 970 repeals defunct programs, unfunded mandates and useless reporting requirements that are currently required of the DSHS.

Kolkhorst says, “This legislative package will deliver more public access and accountability for our elected officials at the local and state levels, so that every Texan is more involved in the decision-making process."