BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2483

By: Alvarado

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties identify oral health as a vital component of students' overall health and well-being, but contend that it is an often overlooked or undervalued component of health care. H.B. 2483 seeks to integrate oral health into coordinated school health program models for public elementary, middle, and junior high school students, with the intention of having beneficial, long-term effects on students' overall well-being.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2483 amends the Education Code to include oral diseases among the health issues which the coordinated health program made available to each school district by the Texas Education Agency is to be designed to prevent and to include oral health education in the health education coordinated by each program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.