By:  Zaffirini                                        S.B. No. 1486
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to the creation of an immunization tracking registry and
    1-2  reporting requirements.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
    1-5  Code, is amended by adding Sections 161.007 and 161.008 to read as
    1-6  follows:
    1-7        Sec. 161.007.  IMMUNIZATION TRACKING REGISTRY; REPORTS TO
    1-8  DEPARTMENT.  (a)  The department shall establish and maintain an
    1-9  immunization tracking registry for the state.
   1-10              (1)  The immunization tracking registry will contain
   1-11  information on the immunization history of every person who is
   1-12  under 18 years of age that is obtained by the department under this
   1-13  section.
   1-14              (2)  The immunization tracking registry shall be
   1-15  accessible to the public in order to provide current information on
   1-16  the immunization status of a person under 18 years of age.
   1-17        (b)  A health care provider who administers an immunization
   1-18  to a person under 18 years of age shall submit a report to the
   1-19  department.  The report shall be in a format provided by the
   1-20  department which may include submission in writing, electronically,
   1-21  or by voice.
   1-22        (c)  An insurance company, health maintenance organization,
   1-23  and any other organization that pays or reimburses a claim for an
    2-1  immunization to a person under 18 years of age shall provide
    2-2  immunization information to the department.
    2-3        (d)  The board shall adopt rules to administer this section.
    2-4        (e)  Information obtained by the department for the
    2-5  immunization tracking registry is confidential and is not subject
    2-6  to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, except as
    2-7  provided in Section 161.008.
    2-8        Sec. 161.008.  IMMUNIZATION RECORD.  (a)  An immunization
    2-9  record contains the following data:
   2-10              (1)  name, date of birth, and mothers maiden name of
   2-11  the person immunized;
   2-12              (2)  date of immunization (month, day, year);
   2-13              (3)  type of immunization administered; and
   2-14              (4)  name and address of the health care provider.
   2-15        (b)  The data comprising an immunization record is not
   2-16  subject to the provisions governing physician-patient
   2-17  communications in Section 5.08, Medical Practice Act (Article
   2-18  4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) or to the confidentiality
   2-19  provisions in Section 161.007.
   2-20        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   2-21        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-22  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-23  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-24  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-25  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.