BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4151

By: Wilson

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties report that prescribing procedures by which each public school district is required to provide information relating to bacterial meningitis falls outside of the Texas Education Agency's core mission and detracts staff from performing duties related to improving the education of Texas students. The goal of H.B. 4151 is to transfer responsibility for that information to a more appropriate entity.  

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

H.B. 4151 amends the Education Code to change from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) the entity required to prescribe procedures by which each public school district is required to provide information relating to bacterial meningitis to its students and their parents each school year. The bill repeals a provision requiring TEA to consult DSHS in prescribing the content of that information and establish an advisory committee to assist TEA in the initial implementation of the dissemination of the information. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

H.B. 4151 repeals Section 38.0025(b), Education Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.