SRC-JJJ H.B. 1860 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1860 By: Gutierrez (Madla) Health Services 5/14/1999 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST Acanthosis nigricans is a primary marker for high insulin levels that are indicative of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a primary factor in the development of Type 2 diabetes. The development of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by identifying insulin resistance early in life. Current law requires school children to be screened for vision and hearing disorders. Screening for acanthosis nigricans involves only a visual check of the child's neck and can be done in conjunction with vision, hearing, and scoliosis screening. H.B. 1860 would establish the acanthosis nigricans screening pilot program in public and private schools in certain counties. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1860 establishes the acanthosis nigricans screening pilot program in public and private schools in certain counties. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas-Mexico Border Health Coordination Office of the University of Texas System in SECTION 3(a) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "acanthosis nigricans," "executive council," "office," "professional examination," "school," and "screening test." SECTION 2. PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. Requires the Texas-Mexico Border Health Coordination Office (office) of the University of Texas system to establish an acanthosis screening pilot program, not later than the 1999-2000 school year. Provides that the pilot program applies only in certain counties. SECTION 3. ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM. Requires the executive council of the office, by rule, to require screening of individuals who attend public or private schools to detect acanthosis nigricans. Authorizes the executive council to consider the number of individuals to be screened and the availability of personnel qualified to administer the required screening. Requires the rules to include procedures necessary to administer the required screening. Requires the office to require the screening to be performed at the same time hearing and vision screening is performed. Authorizes the office to coordinate the screening with certain entities so that the efforts of each entity are complementary and not fragmented and duplicative. Authorizes the office to provide technical assistance to those entities in developing screening programs and to provide educational and other material to assist local screening activities. Requires the office to monitor the quality of screening activities. SECTION 4. COMPLIANCE WITH SCREENING REQUIREMENTS. Requires each required individual required to be screened to undergo approved screening for acanthosis nigricans. Requires the individual to comply with the requirements as soon as possible after the individual's admission to a school and as required by rule. Authorizes the individual, or if a minor, the individual's guardian, to substitute a professional examination for the screening. Sets forth qualifications for an individual's exemption from screening. Requires the chief administrator for each school to ensure that each individual admitted to the school complies with the screening requirements set by the executive council or submits an affidavit of exemption. SECTION 5. RECORDS; REPORTS. Requires the chief administrator of each school to maintain the screening records, and that the records are open for inspection by the office or the local health department. Authorizes the office to enter a school and inspect records, maintained by the school relating to screening for acanthosis nigricans. Authorizes an individual's screening records to be transferred among schools without consent. Requires the person performing the screening to send a report indicating that a person may have acanthosis nigricans to the individual or the individual's legal guardian. Sets forth requirements for the report. Requires each school to submit to the office an annual report regarding the screening status and other related information of the individuals in attendance during the reporting year. Sets forth the form of the report. SECTION 6. REPORTS. Requires the office to submit to the governor and the legislature the report concerning the effectiveness of the pilot program, not later than January 1, 2001. SECTION 7. EXPIRATION DATE. Provides that this Act expires September 1, 2001. SECTION 8. Establishes that this Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in H.B. 1, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. Establishes that if no specific appropriation is provided in H.B. 1, then this Act has no effect. SECTION 8. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.