BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1902

80R9014 KSD-D                                                                                                    By: Van de Putte

                                                                                                                    S/C on Higher Education

                                                                                                                                              5/5/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria that infects the bloodstream and the linings of the brain and spinal cord that progresses rapidly and can kill within hours.  Bacterial meningitis can result in brain damage, hearing loss, learning disability, or even death.  Every year in the United State 1,400 to 2,800 people contract this disease.  Of these, ten to 14 percent die and 11 to 19 percent survive with permanent disabilities, such as mental retardation, hearing loss, and loss of limbs.  The disease often begins with symptoms that can be mistaken for common illnesses, such as influenza.  Meningococcal disease is particularly dangerous because it progresses rapidly and can kill within hours.  College freshmen who live in dormitories are at a higher risk of this disease than other people of a similar age.  Currently, vaccination of college incoming freshmen and transfer students who live in college dormitories is not required prior to a student's registration.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1902  targets vaccination campaigns to all matriculating freshmen and transfer students who will live in college dormitories and requires that all such students provide certain proof of having been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis before registering for any course at the institution.  This bill authorizes certain exceptions.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9192, as follows:

 

Sec. 51.9192.  BACTERIAL MENINGITIS VACCINATION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS; EXCEPTIONS.  (a)  Defines "health practitioner" and "institution of higher education."

 

(b)  Provides that this section applies only to a first-time student of an institution of higher education (institution), including a transfer student, who resides in, or has applied for on-campus housing and has been approved to reside in, an on-campus dormitory or other on-campus student housing facility at the institution.

 

(c)   Requires a student to whom this section applies or a parent or guardian of the student to provide to the institution a certificate signed by a health practitioner evidencing that the student has been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis before registering for any course at an institution, except as provided by Subsection (d).

 

(d)  Provides that a student to whom this section applies or a parent or guardian of the student is not required to comply with Subsection (c) if the student or a parent or guardian of the student submits to the institution certain affidavits.

 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of Section 51.9192, Education Code, as added by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2008.

 

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