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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the biennial legislative report on immunizations issued |
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by the Department of State Health Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 161.0074(c), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The report must: |
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(1) include the current immunization rates by |
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geographic region of the state, where available; |
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(2) focus on the geographic regions of the state with |
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immunization rates below the state average for preschool children; |
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(3) describe the approaches identified to increase |
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immunization rates in underserved areas and the estimated cost for |
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each; |
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(4) identify changes to department procedures needed |
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to increase immunization rates; |
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(5) identify the services provided under and |
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provisions of contracts entered into by the department to increase |
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immunization rates in underserved areas; |
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(6) identify performance measures used in contracts |
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described by Subdivision (5); |
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(7) include the number and type of exemptions used in |
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the past year; |
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(8) include the number of complaints received by the |
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department related to the department's failure to comply with |
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requests for exclusion of individuals from the registry; |
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(9) identify all reported incidents of discrimination |
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for requesting exclusion from the registry or for using an |
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exemption for a required immunization; |
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(10) include department recommendations about the |
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best way to use, and communicate with, local registries in the |
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state; [and] |
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(11) include ways to increase provider participation |
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in the registry; |
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(12) include information by county on the immunization |
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accessibility of residents by age, race, and geographic location, |
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provided the information does not personally identify any |
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individual; |
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(13) identify and assess disparities in access to |
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immunizations by age, race, and geographic location, including an |
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assessment of immunization accessibility in each county; |
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(14) include the estimated economic benefit to this |
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state of reducing disparities in immunization accessibility; |
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(15) include recommendations for reducing disparities |
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in immunization accessibility; and |
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(16) include recommendations for legislative action |
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to increase immunization rates. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |