BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 291
81R2614 MSE-D By: Nelson
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law stipulates that all students enrolled in certain health-related courses of study receive a hepatitis B vaccination series before the student begins providing direct patient care. Some potential students may choose not to pursue health care careers due to the expense and time required to receive the hepatitis B vaccination.
S.B. 291 eliminates a barrier for economically disadvantaged students who wish to pursue health careers by ensuring that only individuals at risk of contracting and spreading the disease are required to have the hepatitis B vaccine.
As proposed, S.B. 291 provides that a rule requiring certain students to have a hepatitis B vaccination applies only to students enrolled in a course of study involving potential exposure to certain blood or bodily fluids and requires the student to receive the vaccinations within certain time frames.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Board of Health and subsequently transferred 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 that a rule adopted under Subsection (b) that requires a hepatitis B vaccination for students applies only to students enrolled in a course of study that involves potential exposure to human or animal blood or bodily fluids and requires each student to receive the first shot of a series of hepatitis B vaccine before the student begins the course of study and 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, 2009.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.