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.
(c) The representative of the department serves as chairman of
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.
(c) The committee shall adopt rules for the conduct of its
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.
(c) Each agency represented on the committee shall use federal
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.