HBA-RBT H.B. 1725 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1725
By: Salinas
Public Health
3/26/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Hepatitis A is a gastrointestinal virus that attacks the liver and is
contracted through contaminated food and water and close person-to-person
contact.  Hepatitis A has been a longstanding problem in Hispanic
communities and is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illnesses among
Hispanic children.  The disease spreads with ease in schools and child-care
facilities and strikes Hispanic children at a rate 10 times higher than the
rate for Anglo children or African-American children according to
Department of Health statistics.  In addition, the number of reported cases
increased from 2,798 in 1993, to 3,460 in 1996.  The Department of Health
statistics also indicate that for every case reported and verified, two
cases go unreported.  Since control of hepatitis A by vaccine requires 70
to 80 percent of the targeted population to be immune, adding it to the
list of vaccines required for school or childcare entry may be an effective
approach to combatting the disease.  H.B. 1725 establishes a hepatitis A
immunization requirement for each student who resides in a county within 60
miles of the border with Mexico. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 38.001, Education Code, to require each student
who resides in a county located within 60 miles from the international
border with the United Mexican States to be fully immunized against
hepatitis A.  Provides exceptions.  Redesignates Subsections (c)-(e) to
Subsections (d)-(f), respectively. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 42.0443(b), Human Resources Code, to require the
Texas Department of Health to require each child who is at least two years
of age but younger than seven years of age and who resides in a county any
part of which is located within 60 miles from the international border with
the United Mexican States to be fully immunized against hepatitis A. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of Section 38.001, Education Code, as amended
by this Act prospective to the 1999-2000 school year. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.