By Smithee                                            H.B. No. 3036
         76R8134 MCK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to immunizations of children.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 161.004(f), Health and Safety Code, is
 1-5     amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (f) The board shall adopt rules that are necessary to
 1-7     administer this section.  The board shall adopt an immunization
 1-8     schedule that  complies with the guidelines for immunization
 1-9     schedules developed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization
1-10     Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American
1-11     Academy of Family Practice.
1-12           SECTION 2.  Section 3(a), Article 21.53F, Insurance Code, as
1-13     added by Chapter 683, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular
1-14     Session, 1997, is amended to read as follows:
1-15           (a)  A health benefit plan that provides benefits for a
1-16     family member of the insured shall provide coverage for each
1-17     covered child described by Subsection (b) of this section, from
1-18     birth through the date the child is six years of age, for:
1-19                 (1)  immunization against:
1-20                       (A)  diphtheria;
1-21                       (B)  haemophilus influenzae type b;
1-22                       (C)  hepatitis B;
1-23                       (D)  measles;
1-24                       (E)  mumps;
 2-1                       (F)  pertussis;
 2-2                       (G)  polio;
 2-3                       (H)  rubella;
 2-4                       (I)  tetanus; [and]
 2-5                       (J)  varicella; and
 2-6                       (K)  rotavirus; and
 2-7                 (2)  any other immunization that is required by statute
 2-8     or rule [law] for the child.
 2-9           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-10           (b)  The change in law made by Section 2 of this Act applies
2-11     only to an insurance policy that is delivered, issued for delivery,
2-12     or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act.  A policy
2-13     that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before the
2-14     effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed on
2-15     the date the insurance policy was delivered, issued for delivery,
2-16     or renewed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
2-17           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.