By Raymond H.B. No. 1151
77R102 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to providing information about bacterial meningitis to
1-3 students of institutions of higher education.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 51.9191 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 51.9191. BACTERIAL MENINGITIS INFORMATION FOR NEW
1-8 STUDENTS. (a) In this section:
1-9 (1) "Institution of higher education" and "private or
1-10 independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
1-11 assigned by Section 61.003.
1-12 (2) "New student" means a first-time student of an
1-13 institution of higher education or private or independent
1-14 institution of higher education and includes a student who
1-15 transfers to the institution from another institution.
1-16 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
1-17 prescribe procedures by which each institution of higher education
1-18 shall provide information relating to bacterial meningitis to new
1-19 students of the institution. The procedures must provide for the
1-20 information to be provided in a brochure or other manner so that
1-21 the information is reasonably likely to come to the attention of
1-22 each student. The coordinating board shall prescribe the form and
1-23 content of the information. The information must cover:
1-24 (1) the symptoms of the disease, how it may be
2-1 diagnosed, and its possible consequences if untreated;
2-2 (2) how the disease is transmitted, how it may be
2-3 prevented, and the relative risk of contracting the disease for
2-4 students of institutions of higher education;
2-5 (3) the availability and effectiveness of vaccination
2-6 against and treatment for the disease, including how students of
2-7 the institution may seek vaccination or treatment and whether a
2-8 vaccination is available from the student health center; and
2-9 (4) sources of additional information regarding the
2-10 disease and include the telephone numbers of the student health
2-11 center, if there is a student health center, and the appropriate
2-12 office of the Texas Department of Health.
2-13 (c) The coordinating board shall consult with the Texas
2-14 Department of Health in prescribing the content of the information
2-15 to be provided to students under this section. The coordinating
2-16 board shall establish an advisory committee to assist the
2-17 coordinating board in the initial implementation of this section.
2-18 The advisory committee must include at least two members who are
2-19 students at public or private institutions of higher education.
2-20 (d) An institution of higher education, with the written
2-21 consent of the coordinating board, may provide the information
2-22 required by this section to new students of the institution by a
2-23 method different from the method required by the coordinating board
2-24 under Subsection (b) if the board determines that method would be
2-25 effective in bringing the information to the attention of all new
2-26 students of the institution.
2-27 (e) The coordinating board and the Texas Department of
3-1 Health shall encourage private or independent institutions of
3-2 higher education to provide the information prescribed by
3-3 Subsection (b) to all new students of those institutions.
3-4 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it
3-5 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
3-6 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
3-7 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
3-8 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-9 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
3-10 implement Section 51.9191, Education Code, as added by this Act, as
3-11 necessary to ensure that the information required by that section
3-12 is provided to new students of institutions of higher education
3-13 entering those institutions on or after January 1, 2002.