CHAPTER 503. HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND HARMFUL PHYSICAL AGENTS

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Texas > Health-and-safety-code > Title-6-food-drugs-alcohol-and-hazardous-substances > Chapter-503-health-risk-assessment-of-toxic-substances-and-harmful-physical-agents

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 6. FOOD, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

SUBTITLE D. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

CHAPTER 503. HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND

HARMFUL PHYSICAL AGENTS

Sec. 503.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the Texas Board of Health.

(2) "Committee" means the Toxic Substances Coordinating

Committee.

(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health.

(4) "Harmful physical agent" means a physical phenomenon, other

than a toxic substance, that has or may have carcinogenic,

mutagenic, teratogenic, or other harmful effects on humans, and

includes:

(A) ionizing radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet light,

or other electromagnetic radiation; and

(B) acoustical, thermal, or mechanical vibration.

(5) "Health risk assessment" means the use of objective data to

characterize the potential adverse health effects that exposure

to a toxic substance or a harmful physical agent may have on a

person.

(6) "Toxic substance" means a substance that has or may have

toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, or other harmful

effects on humans, and includes a product that contains a toxic

substance that poses or may pose a substantial hazard to human

health.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 503.002. TOXIC SUBSTANCES COORDINATING COMMITTEE. (a) The

Toxic Substances Coordinating Committee is composed of one

representative from the:

(1) department;

(2) Department of Agriculture;

(3) Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission;

(4) Parks and Wildlife Department;

(5) Department of Public Safety; and

(6) Railroad Commission of Texas.

(b) The chief administrative officer of each agency shall

appoint the agency representative to the committee. A

representative serves at the will of the chief administrative

officer or until the representative terminates employment with

the agency, whichever occurs first.

the committee.

(d) The department shall provide administrative support to the

committee.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 11.250, eff. Sept.

1, 1995.

Sec. 503.003. MEETINGS; NOTICE. (a) The committee shall meet:

(1) at the call of the chief administrative officer of any

member agency; or

(2) at least once each quarter on a meeting date set by the

committee.

(b) The committee must provide public notice of the meeting date

not later than the 15th day before the date on which the

committee holds the meeting.

meetings.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 503.004. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. (a) The committee shall

coordinate communication among member agencies concerning each

agency's efforts to regulate toxic substances and harmful

physical agents.

(b) The committee shall develop a plan that provides for:

(1) intergovernmental cooperation concerning regulations to

prevent and control the adverse health effects of toxic

substances and harmful physical agents;

(2) a health risk assessment of emergency responses to accidents

involving toxic substances or harmful physical agents;

(3) the coordination of agency programs relating to the

prevention and control of adverse health effects resulting from

exposure to toxic substances or harmful physical agents;

(4) the establishment of an integrated system to collect and

manage information relating to toxic substances and harmful

physical agents; and

(5) public education concerning the use of toxic substances and

harmful physical agents and the potential adverse health effects.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 503.005. HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENTS. (a) In its capacity to

protect the public health, the department shall coordinate health

risk assessments conducted under this chapter.

(b) Each agency represented on the committee shall consult with

and advise the department concerning health risk assessment

activities when beginning a health risk assessment. The agency

shall consult with and advise the department when taking the

action in an emergency or as soon as possible after taking the

action. This section does not require department approval of the

agency's action or health risk assessment.

standards and health risk assessments, if appropriate, and avoid

duplicating federal efforts.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 503.006. POWERS OF DEPARTMENT. (a) The department may

establish an information management system and may collect and

evaluate information relating to the use of toxic substances and

harmful physical agents.

(b) The department may enter into agreements or contracts with

federal, state, or local governmental entities, planning regions,

and other public or private entities to implement this chapter.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 503.007. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS. This chapter does not amend

or affect the regulatory activities or procedures authorized

under other law.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

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