Sec. 777.002. TELEPHONE SERVICES

(a) A poison control center established by this chapter shall provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone referral and information service for the public and health care professionals according to the requirements of the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

(b) Each public safety answering point, as that term is defined by Section 771.001, shall have direct telephone access to at least one poison control center. Regional poison information services may be available directly from the center for the region or from another poison control center but shall be available through all 9-1-1 services in the region, as the term "9-1-1 service" is defined by Section 771.001. The 9-1-1 service calls pertaining to poisonings may be routed to a poison control answering site, if possible, if the routing does not adversely affect the immediate availability of poisoning management services.

(c) A poison control center shall ensure that poison control activities within the designated region meet the criteria established by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. A center may meet the criteria directly or may affiliate with other poison control centers or poison treatment facilities, if possible. A center shall ensure that treatment facilities and services are available within the region and shall identify and make available to the public and to appropriate health professionals information concerning analytical toxicology, emergency and critical care, and extracorporeal capabilities within the region.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 670, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 41, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.