By:  Maxey                                            H.B. No. 1470
       73R4952 CBH-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to immunizations for children.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 81.023, Health and Safety Code, is
    1-5  amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
    1-6        (e)  The board by rule shall require each hospital to:
    1-7              (1)  provide to a new parent a printed flyer that
    1-8  explains the recommended immunization schedule and where
    1-9  immunizations may be obtained in that community at little or no
   1-10  cost; and
   1-11              (2)  send a reminder postcard to a parent at the
   1-12  parent's last known address when a child born at the hospital is
   1-13  due for immunization.
   1-14        (f)  The board shall seek discretionary funding from the
   1-15  United States Department of Health and Human Services or from
   1-16  foundations for funds to establish an emergency immunization
   1-17  demonstration program that will target the five counties in this
   1-18  state that have the lowest immunization rates.  The department, as
   1-19  part of the program, shall create model programs for those counties
   1-20  and develop models for increasing public awareness relating to the
   1-21  importance of preschool immunization among high-risk populations.
   1-22        SECTION 2.  Section 2, Chapter 397, Acts of the 54th
   1-23  Legislature, Regular Session, 1955 (Article 3.70-2, Vernon's Texas
   1-24  Insurance Code), is amended by adding Subsection (N) to read as
    2-1  follows:
    2-2        (N)  An individual or group policy of accident and sickness
    2-3  insurance that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in
    2-4  this state, including a policy or evidence of coverage issued by a
    2-5  company subject to Chapter 20, Insurance Code, or the Texas Health
    2-6  Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance
    2-7  Code), that provides coverage for a child of the covered person
    2-8  must provide coverage for routine childhood immunizations as part
    2-9  of the basic benefits coverage.  The coverage required under this
   2-10  subsection may not be made subject to a deductible, coinsurance, or
   2-11  a copayment.
   2-12        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993, and
   2-13  applies only to a policy or evidence of coverage delivered, issued
   2-14  for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 1994.  A policy or
   2-15  evidence of coverage delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
   2-16  before January 1, 1994, is governed by the law in effect
   2-17  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
   2-18  continued in effect for that purpose.
   2-19        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.