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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to dissemination of information concerning immunization |
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against human papillomavirus. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.0026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0026. DISSEMINATION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS |
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INFORMATION. (a) The agency shall prescribe procedures by which |
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each school district shall provide information to parents and |
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guardians of female students relating to the connection between |
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human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. The procedures must |
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ensure that the information is reasonably likely to come to the |
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attention of the parents or guardians of each female student. |
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(b) The information provided to parents and guardians in |
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Subsection (a) must be similar in form and content to the |
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information required under Section 161.0102, Health and Safety |
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Code. |
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(c) A school district, with the written consent of the |
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agency, may provide the information required by this section to its |
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students and their parents or guardians by a method different from |
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the method prescribed by the agency under Subsection (a) if the |
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agency determines that the method would be effective in bringing |
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the information to the attention of the parents or guardians of each |
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female student. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0102 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.0102. INCREASE AWARENESS OF IMMUNIZATION AGAINST |
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HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS. (a) With existing resources, the |
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department shall collect and disseminate information to parents, |
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managing conservators, and guardians of female children relating to |
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the connection between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer |
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that is unbiased, medically and scientifically accurate, and peer |
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reviewed. The department shall prescribe the form and content of |
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the information. |
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(b) The information on the connection between human |
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papillomavirus and cervical cancer must cover: |
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(1) the risk factors for developing cervical cancer, |
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the symptoms of the disease, how it may be diagnosed, and its |
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possible consequences if untreated; |
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(2) the connection between human papillomavirus and |
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cervical cancer, how human papillomavirus is transmitted, how |
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transmission may be prevented, and the relative risk of contracting |
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human papillomavirus for primary and secondary school students; |
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(3) the availability and effectiveness of vaccination |
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against human papillomavirus and a brief description of the |
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possible side effects of vaccination; and |
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(4) sources of additional information regarding the |
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disease, including any appropriate office of a school district and |
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the appropriate office of the Department of State Health Services. |
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(c) The department shall increase coordination among public |
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and private local, regional, and statewide entities that have an |
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interest in providing information on the human papillomavirus |
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vaccine. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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