By Janek                                              H.B. No. 2671
         77R986 CLG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring the Texas Department of Health to promote the
 1-3     vaccines for children program to certain health care providers not
 1-4     currently enrolled in the program.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  DEFINITION.  In this Act, "vaccines for children
 1-7     program" means the program operated by the Texas Department of
 1-8     Health under authority of 42 U.S.C. Section 1396s, as amended.
 1-9           SECTION 2.  PROMOTION OF VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM.  Not
1-10     later than October 1, 2001, the Texas Department of Health shall
1-11     develop and distribute educational materials designed to promote
1-12     and increase awareness of the vaccines for children program to each
1-13     health care provider in this state, including a Medicaid provider,
1-14     who is not enrolled but is otherwise eligible to participate in the
1-15     vaccines for children program.
1-16           SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
1-17     immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
1-18     elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III,
1-19     Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote
1-20     necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1,
1-21     2001.