1989 AIDS update

The leadership of the 70th Texas Legislature (1987) created the Legislative Task Force on AIDS to study the impact of AIDS in Texas and to recommend to the 71st Legislature (1989) public policies needed to reduce the impact of AIDS in Texas. The task force held numerous public hearings and received testimony from witnesses involved with all areas touched by AIDS. The task force also surveyed state agencies, health care entities, and met with statewide associations, including the Texas Medical Association. A Statement of Preliminary Findings was released in August 1988, and a Final Report was issued in January 1989. Many of the task force's recommendations became part of the Omnibus AIDS Bill filed in the 71st Legislature. After much discussion and public controversy, Senate Bill 959 was passed and took effect Sept 1, 1989. Known as the "Human Immunodeficiency Virus Services Act," it amends numerous statutes and creates new requirements. This article (1) answers a number of questions physicians have raised about how the new law affects their practices.