May 1, 1995

The Honorable David Sibley

Texas Senate

P. O. Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711

RE: S.B. 1685

Dear Senator Sibley,

Allow us to offer the support of the Men’s Health Network for S.B. 1685.

In 1994, we advocated for and passed National Men’s Health Week (NMHW). NMHW is recognized as the week preceding and including Fathers Day. The need for prostate cancer awareness was one of the focal points of that initiative.

NMHW was sponsored by Senator Dole (R-KS) and Representative Richardson (D-NM). The purpose of NMHW is to raise the awareness among the public of the need to take preventative health care seriously, to encourage men to begin a schedule of regular checkups, and to seek early medical attention for abnormal physical symptoms. Preventative health care is cost effective and enables individuals to lead healthy, productive lives. To quote Jean Bonhomme, M.D., President of the Black Men’s Health Network and a member of the Men’s Health Network Board of Advisors:

As Representative Richardson has noted:

Also enclosed are brochures which explain, in part, the focus of the Men’s Health Network. Our work is multi-faceted and includes advocacy for men’s health issues, analysis and distribution of research in both the medical and psychological fields, and cosponsorship of various national health conferences. Our Board of Advisors consists of physicians, psychologists, university professors, and researchers, many of whom provide research which we then distribute through our network and to the media.

Thanks once again for considering one of men’s most important health issues.

Sincerely,

Men’s Health Network

Bill Number: TX74RSB 1685 Date: 5/30/95

ENROLLED

1 AN ACT

2 relating to the detection and prevention of prostate cancer.

3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

4 SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is

5 amended by adding Chapter 91 to read as follows:

6 CHAPTER 91. PROSTATE CANCER EDUCATION PROGRAM

7 Sec. 91.001. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:

8 (1) prostate cancer is a major public health

9 problem with an estimated 13,000 Texans to be diagnosed each year

10 resulting in over 2,200 Texans dying each year;

11 (2) early detection through annual checkups and

12 testing are critical to the preservation of life and to health

13 care strategies for those at risk of prostate cancer; and

14 (3) it is in the public interest of this state to

15 promote public awareness of the benefits and value of the early

16 detection, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.

17 Sec. 91.002. PROSTATE CANCER STRATEGY. In consultation

18 with the board, the commissioner shall develop and implement a

19 program that educates the public on the causes of prostate cancer

20 and the factors associated with the development of prostate

21 cancer. The program shall also publicize the value and methods

22 of early detection and prevention and identify the options

23 available for treatment.

24 Sec. 91.003. TASK FORCE. (a) Using existing resources

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1 in developing the program created by Section 91.002, the

2 commissioner shall appoint a task force to make recommendations

3 on strategies for educating the public on the health benefits of

4 the early detection, prevention, and treatment of prostate

5 cancer.

6 (b) Members of the task force are not entitled to

7 compensation, per diem, or expense reimbursement for their

8 service on the task force.

9 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the

10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby

14 suspended, and that this Act take effect and be in force from and

15 after its passage, and it is so enacted.

16 ________________________________ ________________________________

17 President of the Senate Speaker of the House

18 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1685 passed the Senate on

19 May 10, 1995, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that

20 the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 26, 1995, by the

21 following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

22 _______________________________

23 Secretary of the Senate

24 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1685 passed the House, with

25 amendment, on May 24, 1995, by the following vote: Yeas 142,

26 Nays 0, one present not voting.

27 _______________________________

1 Chief Clerk of the House

2 Approved:

3 ________________________________

4 Date

5 ________________________________

6 Governor