By: Howard, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Buckingham) H.B. No. 797

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 6, 2021; April 8, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; April 20, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 20, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the possession and administration of certain vaccines by a home and community support services agency or its employees.

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

SECTION 1. Section 142.0062(a), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A home and community support services agency or its employees who are registered nurses or licensed vocational nurses may purchase, store, or transport for the purpose of administering to the agency's employees, home health or hospice patients, or patient family members under physician's standing orders the following dangerous drugs:

(1) hepatitis B vaccine;

(2) influenza vaccine;

(3) tuberculin purified protein derivative for tuberculosis testing; [and]

(4) pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; and

(5) any other vaccine approved, authorized for emergency use, or otherwise permitted for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat or mitigate the spread of a communicable disease, as defined by Section 81.003.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

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