BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 33

80R1840 MSE-D                                                                                                              By: Nelson

                                                                                                               Health and Human Services

                                                                                                                                              2/2/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires all health professions students to receive the hepatitis B vaccine series before undertaking direct patient care.  Texas is trying to address the shortage of health care workers in this state.  Some potential health professions students may not pursue training in health care due to the expense and time involved in receiving the three-shot hepatitis B vaccine series as required by current law. As proposed, S.B. 33 decreases the number of students receiving the hepatitis B vaccine to only those who are truly at risk of contracting hepatitis B.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 51.933, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 51.933, Education Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:

 

(b-1)  Requires a rule adopted under Subsection (b) that requires a hepatitis B vaccination for students to only apply to a student enrolled in a course of study that involves potential exposure to human or animal blood or bodily fluids, and requires the student to receive the first shot of a series of hepatitis B vaccine before the student begins the course of study and to continue the series of hepatitis B vaccine while training or working and complete the series according to safety protocols adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service.

 

SECTION 2.  Requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules as required by Section 51.933(b-1), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2007.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.