BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1745 By: Turner, S. (Zaffirini) Health and Human Services 05-10-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Hepatitis B can lead to chronic liver disease or liver cancer and is highly infectious. Traditionally, public health strategies for controlling hepatitis B have focused on immunizing persons at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. However, this strategy has proven ineffective in stemming the spread of hepatitis B. Public experts now believe that the most effective long-term strategy is to immunize children starting at an early age. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1745 requires the immunization for hepatitis B of certain students. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Board of Health under SECTION 2 of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2.09(a), Education Code, to prohibit certain persons from being admitted to any elementary or secondary school unless the person has been fully immunized against, among other illnesses, hepatitis B. SECTION 2. Declares that immunization against hepatitis B is not required until a date specified in rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health. Authorizes the rules to stagger the implementation of the requirement for immunization against hepatitis B. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.