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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a higher education plan for human |
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papillomavirus education and prevention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9196 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9196. HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS HIGHER EDUCATION PLAN |
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AND EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The department, using existing resources and programs |
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to the extent possible, shall develop a state plan for preventing |
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and treating human papillomavirus and the health problems caused by |
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the infection among students enrolled at institutions of higher |
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education. The plan must include strategies for preventing and |
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treating human papillomavirus and related health problems in |
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specific demographic groups that are disproportionately affected |
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by the infection. |
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(c) In developing the plan, the department shall seek the |
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advice of: |
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(1) the public, including advocates who have been |
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infected with human papillomavirus; |
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(2) each state agency that provides services to |
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persons infected with human papillomavirus or that is assigned |
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duties related to health problems caused by human papillomavirus, |
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including the Health and Human Services Commission and the |
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coordinating board; |
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(3) any advisory body that addresses issues related to |
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health problems caused by human papillomavirus; |
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(4) public advocates concerned with issues related to |
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health problems caused by human papillomavirus; |
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(5) providers of services to persons with health |
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problems caused by human papillomavirus; and |
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(6) a statewide professional association of |
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physicians. |
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(d) The department shall review and modify as necessary the |
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plan developed under Subsection (b) at least once every five years |
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and may update the plan biennially. |
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(e) The coordinating board and the department shall jointly |
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develop a program to heighten awareness and enhance knowledge and |
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understanding of human papillomavirus among students enrolled at |
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institutions of higher education. |
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(f) The program developed under Subsection (e) must require |
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the coordinating board and the department to: |
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(1) conduct health education, public awareness, and |
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community outreach activities to promote public awareness and |
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knowledge about the risk factors for, the value of early detection |
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of, available screening services for, and the options available for |
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the treatment of health problems caused by human papillomavirus; |
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and |
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(2) post on the coordinating board's and department's |
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respective Internet websites the options available for the |
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prevention, treatment, and detection of human papillomavirus |
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infection and the health problems caused by the infection and |
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information on the risk factors for, method of transmission of, and |
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value of early detection of the infection. |
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(g) The coordinating board and the department, using |
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existing resources, may include in the program developed under |
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Subsection (e) a study to estimate the current and future impact on |
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this state of health problems caused by human papillomavirus. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |