87R4615 KKR-F
 
  By: Seliger S.B. No. 636
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requirements for and the transparency of
  epidemiological reports and certain immunization exemption
  information and reports.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 81.047, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.047.  EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REPORTS. (a) Subject to the
  confidentiality requirements of this chapter, the department shall
  require epidemiological reports of disease outbreaks and of
  individual cases of disease suspected or known to be of importance
  to the public health, including vaccine preventable diseases. The
  department shall evaluate the reports to determine the trends
  involved and the nature and magnitude of the hazards.
         (b)  The department shall prepare and submit to the
  legislature and the governor not later than December 1 of each
  even-numbered year a biennial report that contains:
               (1)  a report of outbreaks of vaccine preventable
  diseases in this state; and
               (2)  de-identified immunization exemption information,
  including the number of persons claiming an exemption from the
  immunization requirements of Section 161.004 of this code, Sections
  38.001, 51.9192, and 51.933, Education Code, and Section 42.043,
  Human Resources Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 38.002, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (d), (e),
  (f), and (g) to read as follows:
         (a)  Each public school shall keep an individual
  immunization record during the period of attendance for each
  student admitted. The records shall be open for inspection at all
  reasonable times by the Texas Education Agency or by
  representatives of local health departments or the [Texas]
  Department of State Health Services.
         (c)  The Texas Education Agency and the [Texas] Department of
  State Health Services shall develop the form for a required annual
  report of the immunization status of students that includes
  de-identified immunization exemption information. The report
  shall be submitted by all schools at the time and in the manner
  indicated in the instructions printed on the form.
         (d)  Each school district shall provide to the Department of
  State Health Services the information required by Subsection (c)
  for the district and for each school campus in the district.
         (e)  The Department of State Health Services shall make
  available to the public in electronic form, on the department's
  Internet website, the required annual report submitted under
  Subsection (c) on the immunization status of students for each
  school district and each school campus.
         (f)  On request of a student's parent or legal guardian, a
  school district or school campus shall provide to the parent or
  guardian a copy of the following information for the campus at which
  the student is enrolled:
               (1)  the immunization rate disaggregated by type of
  vaccine; and
               (2)  the information submitted under Subsection (c),
  including:
                     (A)  de-identified immunization exemption
  information;
                     (B)  the number of students provisionally
  enrolled pending documentation of immunization;
                     (C)  the number of students claiming an exemption
  for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief;
                     (D)  the number of students claiming an exemption
  for a medical reason; and
                     (E)  the number of students whose vaccinations are
  not current.
         (g)  The commissioner and the executive commissioner of the
  Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary
  to ensure that a report of the immunization status of students made
  available under Subsections (e) and (f) complies with federal law
  regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational
  information, including the Health Insurance Portability and
  Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.) and the
  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
  Section 1232g).
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Education Agency shall update the form
  required by Section 38.002(c), Education Code, as amended by this
  Act, to comply with that subsection.
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.