| (a) Purpose. Health and Safety Code, Chapter 777, provides
the Commission on State Emergency Communications (Commission) with
the authority to establish a program to award grants to fund a network
of regional poison control centers (RPCCs). Funding of the grants
comes from revenues generated by the equalization surcharge imposed
under Health and Safety Code, §771.072 and appropriated to the
Commission.
(b) The Commission shall designate the service area
region for each RPCC. The regions are as follows:
(1) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston--Texas
Health and Human Services (HHS) Regions 5 and 6;
(2) The Dallas County Hospital District/North Texas
Poison Center--HHS Regions 3 and 4;
(3) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio--HHS Regions 8 and 11;
(4) The University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso
County Hospital District--HHS Regions 9 and 10;
(5) The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
at Amarillo--HHS Regions 1 and 2; and
(6) Scott & White Memorial Hospital--HHS Region
7.
(c) Eligibility for Grants. The entities eligible to
request grants are the regional poison control centers for the state,
designated in Health and Safety Code, Chapter 777, as follows:
(1) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;
(2) The Dallas County Hospital District/North Texas
Poison Center;
(3) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio;
(4) The University Medical Center of El Paso, El Paso
County Hospital District;
(5) The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
at Amarillo; and
(6) Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Temple.
(d) Requests for Grants. A RPCC shall request a grant
by submitting to the Commission a strategic plan or amendment to an
approved strategic plan developed in accordance with Commission Rule
§254.3, Regional Strategic Plans and Reporting for Poison Control
Service.
(e) Grant Criteria. As required by Health and Safety
Code §777.009(b), the criteria for awarding grants to a RPCC
includes the following:
(1) the need of the region based on criteria including,
but not limited to, population and geographical area served for poison
control services, and the extent to which the grant would meet the
identified need;
(2) the assurance of providing quality services;
(3) the availability of other funding sources;
(4) achieving and/or maintaining accreditation as a
poison control center with the American Association of Poison Control
Centers (AAPCC); and
(5) maintenance of effort.
(f) Grant Awards. Upon review and approval of grant
requests, the Commission shall award a grant to an RPCC from appropriated
equalization surcharge to fund approved strategic plans, or amendments
thereto, to carry out the duties specified in Health and Safety Code
Chapter 777. In reviewing requests for grants, the Commission shall
consider:
(1) whether the strategic plan or amendment:
(A) complies with Commission rules and policies;
(B) may be effectively implemented;
(C) is cost effective;
(D) is appropriate to providing poison control service;
and
(2) the ability of the RPCC to meet the requirements
and functions in its strategic plan or amendment.
(g) Use of Grant Funds. As determined by the Commission
in approving RPCC Strategic Plans under Commission Rule §254.3,
Regional Strategic Plans and Reporting for Poison Control Service,
awarded grant funds may only be used to provide poison control service
as follows:
(1) Telephone Services;
(2) Community Programs and Assistance. To inform the
public on poison prevention methods and inform and educate health
professionals on the management of poison and overdose victims;
(3) Research Programs;
(4) Information at Birth; and
(5) Achieving or Maintaining AAPCC Accreditation.
(h) Notice. The Commission shall notify each RPCC of
the approval or disapproval of its strategic plan or amendment not
later than the 90th day after the date the Commission receives an
administratively complete plan or amendment. If the Commission disapproves
the plan, it shall specify the reasons for disapproval and set a deadline
for submission of a modified plan or amendment.
(i) Contracts. Upon approval of a grant request, an
RPCC shall execute a contract with the Commission to implement the
approved strategic plan, or amend its existing contract as necessary
to implement an approved strategic plan amendment. Per Commission
rules, policies, and procedures, and the Uniform Grant Management
Standards, the Commission shall provide in a Commission Program Policy
Statement a standard form contract to be executed by the parties.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §254.1 adopted to be effective December 11, 2005, 30 TexReg 8057; amended to be effective October 2, 2008, 33 TexReg 8167; amended to be effective February 2, 2010, 35 TexReg 629; amended to be effective March 6, 2012, 37 TexReg 1491; amended to be effective April 1, 2015, 40 TexReg 1849 |
