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Senate Bill 504 |
Senate Author: Deuell |
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Effective: Vetoed |
House Sponsor: King, Susan |
Senate Bill 504 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove the requirement for the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency, to adopt rules for the mandatory spinal screening of children in grades six and nine in public and private schools for the purpose of detecting abnormal spinal curvature in those children and to require instead the adoption of rules requiring each public school to choose either to participate in the spinal screening program for students in those grades or to provide information developed by the Department of State Health Services on abnormal spinal curvature to the parents, managing conservators, or guardians of those students. The bill requires a school's chief administrator, if a student is exempt from screening because the screening conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination of which the student is an adherent or a member, to make the specified information available to the exempted student's parent, managing conservator, or guardian.
Reason Given for Veto: "SB 504 would remove the state's requirement that schools screen all students in the 6th and 9th grades for spinal abnormalities.
"This screening detects spinal curvatures, helping avoid extensive surgery, scoliosis or abnormal curvatures later in life.
"To ensure children receive the attention and treatment they need for abnormal curvatures, Texas must remain vigilant and retain this required screening."