By Wohlgemuth                                   H.B. No. 1537

      75R3371 MCK-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to requiring parental consent for spinal screening in

 1-3     certain schools.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 37, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Section 37.0025 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 37.0025.  PARENTAL CONSENT FOR SPINAL SCREENING.  (a)  A

 1-8     public or private school may not screen an individual for abnormal

 1-9     spinal curvature without obtaining the written consent of the

1-10     individual's parent, managing conservator, or guardian.

1-11           (b)  A parent, managing conservator, or guardian who does not

1-12     provide written consent for a public or private school to perform

1-13     the spinal screening required by Section 37.002(a) must provide a

1-14     substitute professional examination for the screening.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.