|
House Bill 281 |
House Author: Anchia et al. |
|
Effective: 6-19-09 |
Senate Sponsor: West |
Current law requires the commissioner of state health services, subject to the availability of federal or state funds, to administer a grant program to assist school districts with the costs of operating school-based health centers. House Bill 281 amends the Education Code to make local health departments, hospitals, health care systems, universities, or nonprofit organizations that contract with school districts eligible to receive grants under the same rules and conditions of eligibility. The bill sets the term of a grant at five years and authorizes a grant recipient to use grant funds to establish a new school-based health center, expand an existing center, or operate such a center. The bill prohibits the award of a program grant to a nonprofit organization that offers reproductive and contraceptive services, counseling, or referrals, or any other services that require an abortion facility license or is affiliated with an organization that holds such a license.
House Bill 281 requires the Department of State Health Services to submit a biennial report to the legislature rather than the annual report previously required and specifies additional emphases on the efficacy of services delivered by the centers on increased student immunization rates and increased student participation in preventive health measures. The bill also authorizes the department to modify any program requirement if necessary to comply with federal law regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational information, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.