BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2323

By: Blanco

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas schools perform student health screenings, including scoliosis screenings, to identify potential health problems in their early stages. According to interested parties, recent studies have shown that wearing a back brace can slow the progression of the most common form of scoliosis in adolescents and, in many cases, avoid the need for spinal surgery. With the importance of early detection in mind, C.S.H.B. 2323 seeks to update the state's standards for mandatory spinal screenings for children attending public or private schools to maximize the effectiveness of those screenings.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

C.S.H.B. 2323 amends the Health and Safety Code, as amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, to change the grade levels at which children attending public or private school undergo a mandatory spinal screening for abnormal spinal curvature to require such spinal screening of female children in grades 5 and 7 and male children in grade 8, instead of requiring a spinal screening of all children in grades 6 and 9. The bill requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency and as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, to adopt the rules governing mandatory spinal screenings. The bill's provisions regarding the revised grade levels for mandatory spinal screenings apply beginning with the 2016–2017 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2323 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways to conform to changes made by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, which became effective April 2, 2015.