By Zaffirini S.B. No. 31 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.