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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access by certain persons to a first responder's |
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immunization history. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.00708 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.00708. ACCESS TO FIRST RESPONDER IMMUNIZATION |
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HISTORY. (a) The department shall establish a process to provide |
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an employer of a first responder with direct access to the first |
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responder's immunization information in the immunization registry |
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for verification of the first responder's immunization history. |
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The process must require a first responder to provide electronic or |
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written consent before the employer is granted direct access to the |
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first responder's immunization information in the immunization |
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registry. A first responder may withdraw consent at any time. |
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(b) The department may establish a process to provide a |
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first responder with access to the first responder's immunization |
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information in the immunization registry. |
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SECTION 2. Section 161.008(d), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The department may release the data constituting an |
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immunization record for the individual to: |
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(1) any entity that is described by Subsection (c); |
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(2) a school or child care facility in which the |
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individual is enrolled; [or] |
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(3) a state agency having legal custody of the |
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individual; or |
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(4) an employer of a first responder or a first |
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responder in accordance with Section 161.00708. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |