1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the gathering of information on and the use of funds
 1-3     from a more efficient means of storing and distributing vaccines.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  (a)  In this Act, "vaccines for children
 1-6     program":
 1-7                 (1)  means the program operated by the Texas Department
 1-8     of Health under authority of 42 U.S.C. Section 1396s, as amended;
 1-9     and
1-10                 (2)  includes the program allowing each health care
1-11     provider participating in the federal vaccines for children
1-12     program, beginning with each such health care provider located in
1-13     the largest major metropolitan area in the state with the lowest
1-14     immunization rate of children, to select vaccines from the list of
1-15     all vaccines that are recommended and approved by the federal
1-16     Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and under contract
1-17     with the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Public
1-18     Health Service and to use combination vaccines.
1-19           (b)  The Texas Department of Health shall develop a request
1-20     for information to obtain information from private entities to
1-21     determine whether a private entity could more effectively and
1-22     efficiently store and distribute the vaccinations used in the
1-23     vaccines for children program.
1-24           (c)  The Texas Department of Health shall develop and
1-25     distribute the request for information not later than January 1,
 2-1     2002.
 2-2           (d)  Out of funds saved from more efficient and effective
 2-3     storage and distribution of vaccinations used in the vaccines for
 2-4     children program, the Texas Department of Health shall allow each
 2-5     health care provider participating in the federal vaccines for
 2-6     children program, beginning with each such health care provider
 2-7     located in a major metropolitan area with an immunization rate
 2-8     below the national average, to:
 2-9                 (1)  select vaccines from the list of all vaccines that
2-10     are recommended and approved by the federal Advisory Committee on
2-11     Immunization Practices and under contract with the Centers for
2-12     Disease Control of the United States Public Health Service; and
2-13                 (2)  use combination vaccines.
2-14           (e)  Subsections (b) and (c) of this section expire September
2-15     1, 2002.
2-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 280 passed the Senate on
         April 20, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
         amendments on May 26, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 280 passed the House, with
         amendments, on May 23, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor