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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibited discrimination regarding vaccination status |
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and mandates for receiving or participating in the administration |
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of vaccines; authorizing administrative penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. VACCINATION STATUS DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED |
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SECTION 1.01. Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce |
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Code, is amended by adding Chapter 113 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 113. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON |
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VACCINATION STATUS |
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Sec. 113.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "public |
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accommodation" means a disposition, service, financial aid, or |
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benefit provided to members of the public. |
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Sec. 113.002. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. A person may not |
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discriminate against or refuse to provide a public accommodation to |
|
an individual based on the individual's vaccination history or |
|
immunity status for a communicable disease by: |
|
(1) providing to the individual a public accommodation |
|
that is different or provided in a different manner than the |
|
accommodation provided or manner of providing the accommodation to |
|
other members of the public; |
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(2) subjecting the individual to segregation or |
|
separate treatment in any matter related to providing the public |
|
accommodation to the individual; |
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(3) restricting in any way the individual's enjoyment |
|
of a public accommodation in a manner that distinguishes the |
|
individual's enjoyment from the enjoyment of other members of the |
|
public; |
|
(4) treating the individual differently from other |
|
members of the public in determining whether the individual |
|
satisfies any admission, enrollment, quota, eligibility, |
|
membership, or other requirement or condition that individuals must |
|
satisfy before a public accommodation is provided; or |
|
(5) denying the individual an opportunity to |
|
participate in a program in a manner that differs from the manner |
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the opportunity is provided to other members of the public. |
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Sec. 113.003. COMPLAINT; EQUITABLE RELIEF. (a) A person may |
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file a complaint with the attorney general if the person asserts |
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facts supporting an allegation that another person has violated |
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Section 113.002. The person filing the complaint must include a |
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sworn affidavit stating that to the person's knowledge, all of the |
|
facts asserted in the complaint are true and correct. |
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(b) If the attorney general determines that a complaint |
|
filed under Subsection (a) is valid, the attorney general may file a |
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petition for a writ of mandamus or apply for other appropriate |
|
equitable relief in a district court in Travis County or in a county |
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in which the person against whom relief is sought resides to compel |
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the person to comply with Section 113.002. |
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Sec. 113.004. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW. This chapter prevails to |
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the extent of a conflict between this chapter and any other law. |
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SECTION 1.02. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 161.0057 and 161.0085 to read as |
|
follows: |
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Sec. 161.0057. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY IMMUNIZATION |
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DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "long-term care |
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facility" means a facility licensed or regulated under Chapter 242, |
|
247, or 252. |
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(b) A long-term care facility may not refuse to provide |
|
services to a resident based on the resident's immunization record |
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or immunity status for a communicable disease. |
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(c) A long-term care facility that violates this section is |
|
ineligible to receive state money for services provided to |
|
residents. |
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(d) A violation of this section is a violation of the |
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long-term care facility's applicable licensing law and subjects the |
|
facility to disciplinary action and the imposition of |
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administrative penalties under that law. |
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(e) This section prevails to the extent of a conflict |
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between this section and any other law. |
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Sec. 161.0085. IMMUNIZATION RECORD DISCRIMINATION |
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PROHIBITED. (a) A health care provider or health care facility may |
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not refuse to provide a health care service to a patient because a |
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patient is unvaccinated or not immune to a communicable disease. |
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(b) A health care facility providing clinical experience to |
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satisfy a student's degree requirements may not discriminate |
|
against a student or prohibit admission, enrollment, or employment |
|
as a student, intern, or resident because of the student's |
|
immunization record or immunity status for a communicable disease. |
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(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a health care provider or |
|
health care facility that violates this section is ineligible to |
|
receive state money for health care services provided to patients. |
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(d) A violation of this section is a violation of the health |
|
care provider's or health care facility's applicable licensing law |
|
and subjects the facility or provider to disciplinary action and |
|
the imposition of administrative penalties under that law. |
|
(e) This section prevails to the extent of a conflict |
|
between this section and any other law. |
|
SECTION 1.03. Chapter 544, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter M to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER M. VACCINATION STATUS |
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Sec. 544.601. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Health benefit plan issuer" means an issuer, |
|
administrator, or sponsor of a health benefit plan described by |
|
Section 544.602. |
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(2) "Participating provider" means a health care |
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provider who has contracted with a health benefit plan issuer to |
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provide services to enrollees. |
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Sec. 544.602. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This |
|
subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides |
|
benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a |
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health condition, accident, or sickness, including a group, |
|
blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a |
|
group hospital service contract, or a group evidence of coverage or |
|
similar coverage document that is offered by: |
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(1) an insurance company; |
|
(2) a group hospital service corporation operating |
|
under Chapter 842; |
|
(3) a health maintenance organization operating under |
|
Chapter 843; |
|
(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that |
|
holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844; |
|
(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds |
|
a certificate of authority under Chapter 846; |
|
(6) a stipulated premium company operating under |
|
Chapter 884; |
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(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under |
|
Chapter 885; |
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(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or |
|
(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies |
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to: |
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(1) a small employer health benefit plan subject to |
|
Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group |
|
cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter; |
|
(2) a standard health benefit plan issued under |
|
Chapter 1507; |
|
(3) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551; |
|
(4) a basic plan under Chapter 1575; |
|
(5) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579; |
|
(6) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter |
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1601; |
|
(7) health benefits provided by or through a church |
|
benefits board under Subchapter I, Chapter 22, Business |
|
Organizations Code; |
|
(8) the state Medicaid program, including the Medicaid |
|
managed care program operated under Chapter 533, Government Code; |
|
(9) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, |
|
Health and Safety Code; |
|
(10) a regional or local health care program operated |
|
under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(11) a self-funded health benefit plan sponsored by a |
|
professional employer organization under Chapter 91, Labor Code; |
|
(12) county employee group health benefits provided |
|
under Chapter 157, Local Government Code; and |
|
(13) health and accident coverage provided by a risk |
|
pool created under Chapter 172, Local Government Code. |
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(c) This subchapter applies to a life insurance company |
|
that: |
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(1) issues or delivers a life insurance policy in this |
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state; or |
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(2) is organized under the laws of this state. |
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Sec. 544.603. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST |
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INDIVIDUAL. A group health benefit plan issuer or a life insurance |
|
company may not use an individual's vaccination history or immunity |
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status for a communicable disease to: |
|
(1) reject, deny, limit, cancel, refuse to renew, or |
|
increase the premiums for coverage of the individual under a plan |
|
offered by the issuer or company; |
|
(2) limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage |
|
available to the individual; or |
|
(3) otherwise adversely affect the individual's |
|
eligibility for coverage. |
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Sec. 544.604. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION IN GROUP PLAN |
|
RATING. The vaccination history or immunity status for a |
|
communicable disease of individuals covered under a group health |
|
benefit plan that provides coverage in this state may not be used as |
|
a factor in the rating of the plan. |
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Sec. 544.605. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST |
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PARTICIPATING PROVIDER. (a) A health benefit plan issuer may not |
|
use the vaccination history of a health care provider's patients as |
|
a qualification or requirement for contracting with the provider or |
|
as a basis for terminating a contract with the provider. |
|
(b) A health benefit plan issuer may not use the vaccination |
|
history or immunity status for a communicable disease of enrollees |
|
as a factor in providing a financial incentive or assessing a |
|
financial or other penalty against a participating provider. |
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Sec. 544.606. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW. This subchapter |
|
prevails to the extent of a conflict between this subchapter and any |
|
other law. |
|
SECTION 1.04. Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended by adding |
|
Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON VACCINATION STATUS |
|
Sec. 21.421. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON |
|
VACCINATION STATUS. (a) An employer commits an unlawful employment |
|
practice if the employer fails or refuses to hire, discharges, or |
|
otherwise discriminates against an individual with respect to the |
|
compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment |
|
because the individual is unvaccinated or not immune to a |
|
communicable disease. |
|
(b) A labor organization commits an unlawful employment |
|
practice if the labor organization excludes or expels from |
|
membership or otherwise discriminates against an individual |
|
because the individual is unvaccinated or not immune to a |
|
communicable disease. |
|
(c) An employment agency commits an unlawful employment |
|
practice if the employment agency classifies or refers for |
|
employment, fails or refuses to refer for employment, or otherwise |
|
discriminates against an individual because the individual is |
|
unvaccinated or not immune to a communicable disease. |
|
(d) An employer, labor organization, or employment agency |
|
commits an unlawful employment practice if the employer, labor |
|
organization, or employment agency limits, segregates, or |
|
classifies an employee, member, or applicant for employment or |
|
membership in a way that would deprive or tend to deprive the |
|
employee, member, or applicant of employment opportunities or |
|
otherwise adversely affect the status of the employee, member, or |
|
applicant because the employee, member, or applicant is |
|
unvaccinated or not immune to a communicable disease. |
|
Sec. 21.422. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW. This subchapter prevails |
|
to the extent of a conflict between this subchapter and any other |
|
law. |
|
SECTION 1.05. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by |
|
adding Chapter 60 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 60. IMMUNIZATION DISCRIMINATION |
|
Sec. 60.001. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON |
|
IMMUNIZATION. A licensing authority may not deny an application |
|
for an occupational license, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew an |
|
occupational license, or take any other disciplinary action against |
|
an individual based on: |
|
(1) the individual's vaccination history or immunity |
|
status for a communicable disease; or |
|
(2) the individual's refusal to be vaccinated or |
|
participate in administering a vaccine. |
|
Sec. 60.002. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW. This chapter prevails to |
|
the extent of a conflict between this chapter and any other law. |
|
SECTION 1.06. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by adding Chapter 103A to read as follows: |
|
CHAPTER 103A. RIGHT TO OBJECT TO VACCINATIONS |
|
Sec. 103A.001. RIGHT TO OBJECT. A hospital or other health |
|
care facility may not require as a condition of employment that an |
|
employee, including a physician, nurse, or staff member: |
|
(1) be vaccinated; or |
|
(2) participate in administering a vaccine. |
|
Sec. 103A.002. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. (a) A hospital |
|
or other health care facility may not discriminate against an |
|
employee, including a physician, nurse, or staff member, or an |
|
applicant who: |
|
(1) refuses to: |
|
(A) be vaccinated; or |
|
(B) participate in administering a vaccine; or |
|
(2) is not immune to a communicable disease. |
|
(b) An educational institution may not discriminate against |
|
an applicant for admission or employment as a student, intern, or |
|
resident based on: |
|
(1) the applicant's vaccination history or immunity |
|
status for a communicable disease; or |
|
(2) the applicant's refusal to be vaccinated or |
|
participate in administering a vaccine. |
|
Sec. 103A.003. REMEDIES. A person aggrieved by a violation |
|
of this chapter may bring an action against a hospital, other health |
|
care facility, or educational institution that administers a |
|
hospital or other health care facility in a district court in the |
|
county where the hospital, facility, or institution is located for: |
|
(1) an injunction against any further violation; |
|
(2) appropriate equitable relief, including: |
|
(A) admission or reinstatement of employment; |
|
and |
|
(B) back pay and 10 percent interest on the back |
|
pay; and |
|
(3) any other relief necessary to ensure compliance |
|
with this chapter. |
|
Sec. 103A.004. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW. This chapter prevails |
|
to the extent of a conflict between this chapter and any other law. |
|
SECTION 1.07. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 521.013 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 521.013. PROHIBITED VACCINATION DISCRIMINATION. (a) |
|
The department may not use an individual's vaccination history or |
|
proof of immunity to a communicable disease as a requirement for the |
|
issuance or renewal of a driver's license, election identification |
|
certificate, or personal identification certificate. |
|
(b) The department may not discriminate against, deny |
|
services or access to, or otherwise penalize any individual for |
|
being unvaccinated or not providing proof of vaccination or |
|
immunity to a communicable disease. |
|
(c) This section prevails to the extent of a conflict |
|
between this section and any other law. |
|
ARTICLE 2. VACCINATION MANDATES PROHIBITED |
|
SECTION 2.01. Section 25.002(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) If a parent or other person with legal control of a child |
|
under a court order enrolls the child in a public school, the parent |
|
or other person or the school district in which the child most |
|
recently attended school shall furnish to the school district: |
|
(1) the child's birth certificate or another document |
|
suitable as proof of the child's identity; and |
|
(2) a copy of the child's records from the school the |
|
child most recently attended if the child has been previously |
|
enrolled in a school in this state or another state[; and |
|
[(3) a record showing that the child has the |
|
immunizations as required under Section 38.001, in the case of a |
|
child required under that section to be immunized, proof as |
|
required by that section showing that the child is not required to |
|
be immunized, or proof that the child is entitled to provisional |
|
admission under that section and under rules adopted under that |
|
section]. |
|
SECTION 2.02. The heading to Section 38.001, Education |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 38.001. RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS [IMMUNIZATION; |
|
REQUIREMENTS; EXCEPTIONS]. |
|
SECTION 2.03. Section 38.001(b-1), Education Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b-1) Each year, the Department of State Health Services |
|
shall prepare a list of the immunizations [required under this |
|
section for admission to public schools and of any additional |
|
immunizations] the department recommends for school-age children. |
|
The department shall prepare the list in English and Spanish and |
|
make the list available in a manner that permits a school district |
|
to easily post the list on the district's Internet website as |
|
required by Section 38.019. A school district or a school, |
|
including a private school, may not require any immunizations as a |
|
condition of admission to or attendance at an elementary or |
|
secondary school. |
|
SECTION 2.04. Sections 38.019(a) and (b), Education Code, |
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A school district that maintains an Internet website |
|
shall post prominently on the website[: |
|
[(1)] a list, in English and Spanish, of: |
|
(1) [(A) the immunizations required for admission to |
|
public school by rules of the Department of State Health Services |
|
adopted under Section 38.001; |
|
[(B)] any immunizations or vaccines recommended |
|
for public school students by the Department of State Health |
|
Services; and |
|
(2) [(C)] health clinics in the district that offer |
|
the influenza vaccine, to the extent those clinics are known to the |
|
district[; and |
|
[(2) a link to the Department of State Health Services |
|
Internet website where a person may obtain information relating to |
|
the procedures for claiming an exemption from the immunization |
|
requirements of Section 38.001]. |
|
(b) The list of recommended immunizations or vaccines under |
|
Subsection (a)(1) [(a)(2)] must include the influenza vaccine[, |
|
unless the Department of State Health Services requires the |
|
influenza vaccine for admission to public school]. |
|
SECTION 2.05. The heading to Section 51.933, Education |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 51.933. IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION [REQUIREMENTS; |
|
EXCEPTION]. |
|
SECTION 2.06. Section 51.933(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) An institution of higher education may not require |
|
students or applicants for admission to be immunized against any |
|
communicable disease [diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, mumps, |
|
tetanus, and poliomyelitis, except as provided in Subsection (d)]. |
|
SECTION 2.07. Section 264.1076(d), Family Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(d) A physician or other health care provider conducting an |
|
examination under Subsection (b) may not administer a vaccination |
|
as part of the examination without parental consent[, except that a |
|
physician or other health care provider may administer a tetanus |
|
vaccination to a child in a commercially available preparation if |
|
the physician or other health care provider determines that an |
|
emergency circumstance requires the administration of the |
|
vaccination]. The prohibition on the administration of a |
|
vaccination under this subsection does not apply after the |
|
department has been named managing conservator of the child after a |
|
hearing conducted under Subchapter C, Chapter 262. |
|
SECTION 2.08. Section 531.0335(b), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall prohibit a |
|
health and human services agency from taking a punitive action |
|
against a person responsible for a child's care, custody, or |
|
welfare for declining [failure of the person] to immunize the child |
|
against any communicable disease [ensure that the child receives |
|
the immunization series prescribed by Section 161.004, Health and |
|
Safety Code]. |
|
SECTION 2.09. Section 12.033(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the |
|
executive commissioner by rule shall adopt fees to be collected by |
|
the department for the distribution and administration of vaccines |
|
and sera provided under[: |
|
[(1) Section 38.001, Education Code; |
|
[(2) Section 42.043, Human Resources Code; |
|
[(3)] Chapter 826 (Rabies Control Act of 1981)[; |
|
[(4) Chapter 81 (Communicable Disease Prevention and |
|
Control Act); and |
|
[(5) Section 161.005]. |
|
SECTION 2.10. Section 81.082(f), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(f) In this section, "control measures" does not include an |
|
immunization or vaccine and includes: |
|
(1) [immunization; |
|
[(2)] detention; |
|
(2) [(3)] restriction; |
|
(3) [(4)] disinfection; |
|
(4) [(5)] decontamination; |
|
(5) [(6)] isolation; |
|
(6) [(7)] quarantine; |
|
(7) [(8)] disinfestation; |
|
(8) [(9)] chemoprophylaxis; |
|
(9) [(10)] preventive therapy; |
|
(10) [(11)] prevention; and |
|
(11) [(12)] education. |
|
SECTION 2.11. Section 81.085(i), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(i) On request of the department during a public health |
|
disaster, an individual shall disclose the individual's |
|
immunization information. If the individual does not have updated |
|
or appropriate immunizations, the department may take appropriate |
|
action during a quarantine to protect that individual and the |
|
public from the communicable disease, but the department may not |
|
administer a vaccine to the individual without the individual's |
|
consent. |
|
SECTION 2.12. The heading to Section 161.0051, Health and |
|
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 161.0051. REQUIRED OFFER OF IMMUNIZATIONS FOR NURSING |
|
HOMES. |
|
SECTION 2.13. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0055 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 161.0055. VACCINATION MANDATES AND DISCRIMINATION |
|
PROHIBITED. (a) A governmental entity or official, including the |
|
governor, a state agency, a political subdivision, or a political |
|
subdivision official, may not: |
|
(1) require an individual to be vaccinated; |
|
(2) require an individual to participate in the |
|
administration of a vaccine; or |
|
(3) discriminate or impose a civil or criminal penalty |
|
against an individual who refuses vaccination or participation in |
|
the administration of a vaccine. |
|
(b) This section applies to all other law, including an |
|
agency rule, executive order, or emergency order. |
|
(c) This section prevails to the extent of a conflict |
|
between this section and any other law. |
|
SECTION 2.14. Section 161.0074(c), Health and Safety Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) The report must: |
|
(1) include the current immunization rates by |
|
geographic region of the state, where available; |
|
(2) focus on the geographic regions of the state with |
|
immunization rates below the state average for preschool children; |
|
(3) describe the approaches identified to increase |
|
immunization rates in underserved areas and the estimated cost for |
|
each; |
|
(4) identify changes to department procedures needed |
|
to increase immunization rates; |
|
(5) identify the services provided under and |
|
provisions of contracts entered into by the department to increase |
|
immunization rates in underserved areas; |
|
(6) identify performance measures used in contracts |
|
described by Subdivision (5); |
|
(7) include the number and type of exemptions used in |
|
the past year; |
|
(8) include the number of complaints received by the |
|
department related to the department's failure to comply with |
|
requests for exclusion of individuals from the registry; |
|
(9) identify all reported incidents of discrimination |
|
for requesting exclusion from the registry [or for using an |
|
exemption for a required immunization]; |
|
(10) include department recommendations about the |
|
best way to use, and communicate with, local registries in the |
|
state; and |
|
(11) include ways to increase provider participation |
|
in the registry. |
|
SECTION 2.15. Section 161.0105(c), Health and Safety Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) The immunity created by this section is in addition to |
|
any immunity created by Section [Sections 161.001 and] 161.007(i). |
|
SECTION 2.16. Section 224.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) The policy must: |
|
(1) encourage [require] covered individuals to |
|
receive vaccines for the vaccine preventable diseases specified by |
|
the facility based on the level of risk the individual presents to |
|
patients by the individual's routine and direct exposure to |
|
patients; |
|
(2) specify the recommended vaccines a covered |
|
individual is encouraged [required] to receive based on the level |
|
of risk the individual presents to patients by the individual's |
|
routine and direct exposure to patients; |
|
(3) [include procedures for verifying whether a |
|
covered individual has complied with the policy; |
|
[(4) include procedures for a covered individual to be |
|
exempt from the required vaccines for the medical conditions |
|
identified as contraindications or precautions by the Centers for |
|
Disease Control and Prevention; |
|
[(5)] for a covered individual who declines to receive |
|
[is exempt from] the recommended [required] vaccines, include |
|
procedures the individual must follow to protect facility patients |
|
from exposure to disease, such as the use of protective medical |
|
equipment, such as gloves and masks, based on the level of risk the |
|
individual presents to patients by the individual's routine and |
|
direct exposure to patients; |
|
(4) [(6)] prohibit discrimination or retaliatory |
|
action against a covered individual who declines to receive [is |
|
exempt from] the recommended [required] vaccines [for the medical |
|
conditions identified as contraindications or precautions by the |
|
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], except that required |
|
use of protective medical equipment, such as gloves and masks, may |
|
not be considered retaliatory action for purposes of this |
|
subdivision; and |
|
(5) [(7)] require the health care facility to maintain |
|
a written or electronic record of each covered individual's |
|
immunization record [compliance with or exemption from the policy; |
|
and |
|
[(8) include disciplinary actions the health care |
|
facility is authorized to take against a covered individual who |
|
fails to comply with the policy]. |
|
(b-1) A health care facility shall maintain as confidential |
|
an immunization record described by Subsection (b)(5) and may not |
|
disclose the record to any other person unless the disclosure is |
|
otherwise required by law. |
|
SECTION 2.17. Section 31.0031(d), Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) The responsibility agreement shall require that: |
|
(1) the parent of a dependent child cooperate with the |
|
commission and the Title IV-D agency if necessary to establish the |
|
paternity of the dependent child and to establish or enforce child |
|
support; |
|
(2) if adequate and accessible providers of the |
|
services are available in the geographic area and subject to the |
|
availability of funds, each dependent child, as appropriate, |
|
complete early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment |
|
checkups on schedule [and receive the immunization series |
|
prescribed by Section 161.004, Health and Safety Code, unless the |
|
child is exempt under that section]; |
|
(3) each adult recipient, or teen parent recipient who |
|
has completed the requirements regarding school attendance in |
|
Subdivision (6), not voluntarily terminate paid employment of at |
|
least 30 hours each week without good cause in accordance with rules |
|
adopted by the executive commissioner; |
|
(4) each adult recipient for whom a needs assessment |
|
is conducted participate in an activity to enable that person to |
|
become self-sufficient by: |
|
(A) continuing the person's education or |
|
becoming literate; |
|
(B) entering a job placement or employment skills |
|
training program; |
|
(C) serving as a volunteer in the person's |
|
community; or |
|
(D) serving in a community work program or other |
|
work program approved by the commission; |
|
(5) each caretaker relative or parent receiving |
|
assistance not use, sell, or possess marihuana or a controlled |
|
substance in violation of Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or |
|
abuse alcohol; |
|
(6) each dependent child younger than 18 years of age |
|
or teen parent younger than 19 years of age attend school regularly, |
|
unless the child has a high school diploma or high school |
|
equivalency certificate or is specifically exempted from school |
|
attendance under Section 25.086, Education Code; |
|
(7) each recipient comply with commission rules |
|
regarding proof of school attendance; and |
|
(8) each recipient attend appropriate parenting |
|
skills training classes, as determined by the needs assessment. |
|
SECTION 2.18. Sections 42.043(b) and (d), Human Resources |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The department shall require that each child at an |
|
appropriate age have a test for tuberculosis [and be immunized |
|
against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, mumps, rubella, |
|
rubeola, invasive pneumococcal disease, and hepatitis A and against |
|
any other communicable disease as recommended by the Department of |
|
State Health Services. The immunization must be effective on the |
|
date of first entry into the facility. However, a child may be |
|
provisionally admitted if the required immunizations have begun and |
|
are completed as rapidly as medically feasible]. |
|
(d) No immunization may be required for admission to a |
|
facility regulated under this chapter [if a person applying for a |
|
child's admission submits one of the following affidavits: |
|
[(1) an affidavit signed by a licensed physician |
|
stating that the immunization poses a significant risk to the |
|
health and well-being of the child or a member of the child's family |
|
or household; or |
|
[(2) an affidavit signed by the child's parent or |
|
guardian stating that the applicant declines immunization for |
|
reasons of conscience, including a religious belief]. |
|
SECTION 2.19. Section 42.04305, Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c) The policy must: |
|
(1) encourage [require] each facility employee to |
|
receive vaccines for the vaccine-preventable diseases specified by |
|
the child-care facility based on the level of risk the employee |
|
presents to children by the employee's routine and direct exposure |
|
to children; |
|
(2) specify the recommended vaccines a facility |
|
employee is encouraged [required] to receive based on the level of |
|
risk the employee presents to children by the employee's routine |
|
and direct exposure to children; |
|
(3) [include procedures for verifying whether a |
|
facility employee has complied with the policy; |
|
[(4) include procedures for a facility employee to be |
|
exempt from the required vaccines for the medical conditions |
|
identified as contraindications or precautions by the Centers for |
|
Disease Control and Prevention; |
|
[(5)] for a facility employee who declines to receive |
|
[is exempt from] the recommended [required] vaccines, include |
|
procedures the employee must follow to protect children in the |
|
facility's care from exposure to disease, such as the use of |
|
protective medical equipment, including gloves and masks, based on |
|
the level of risk the employee presents to children by the |
|
employee's routine and direct exposure to children; |
|
(4) [(6)] prohibit discrimination or retaliatory |
|
action against a facility employee who declines to receive [is |
|
exempt from] the recommended [required] vaccines [for the medical |
|
conditions identified as contraindications or precautions by the |
|
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], except that required |
|
use of protective medical equipment, including gloves and masks, |
|
may not be considered retaliatory action for purposes of this |
|
subdivision; and |
|
(5) [(7)] require the child-care facility to maintain |
|
a written or electronic record of each facility employee's |
|
immunization record [compliance with or exemption from the policy; |
|
and |
|
[(8) state the disciplinary actions the child-care |
|
facility is authorized to take against a facility employee who |
|
fails to comply with the policy]. |
|
(c-1) A facility shall maintain as confidential an |
|
immunization record described by Subsection (c)(5) and may not |
|
disclose the record to any other person unless the disclosure is |
|
otherwise required by law. |
|
SECTION 2.20. The following provisions are repealed: |
|
(1) Sections 38.001(a), (c), (c-1), (d), (e), and |
|
(f), Education Code; |
|
(2) Section 38.001(b), Education Code, as amended by |
|
Chapters 43 (H.B. 1098) and 94 (H.B. 1059), Acts of the 80th |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2007; |
|
(3) Section 38.019(a-1), Education Code; |
|
(4) Section 51.9192, Education Code; |
|
(5) Sections 51.933(b), (b-1), (d), (d-1), and (e), |
|
Education Code; |
|
(6) Section 531.0335(c), Government Code; |
|
(7) Section 81.023, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(8) Section 161.001, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(9) Section 161.004, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(10) Section 161.0041, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(11) Section 161.005, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(12) Section 161.007(h), Health and Safety Code; |
|
(13) Section 224.002(c), Health and Safety Code; |
|
(14) Section 224.003, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(15) Sections 31.031(d) and (e), Human Resources Code; |
|
(16) Sections 42.043(c), (d-1), and (f), Human |
|
Resources Code; and |
|
(17) Section 42.04305(d), Human Resources Code. |
|
ARTICLE 3. TRANSITION AND EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
SECTION 3.01. Each facility subject to Chapter 224, Health |
|
and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, or Section 42.04305, Human |
|
Resources Code, as amended by this Act, shall modify the facility's |
|
vaccine-preventable disease policy to conform with the changes in |
|
law made by this Act not later than January 1, 2022. |
|
SECTION 3.02. (a) Subchapter M, Chapter 544, Insurance |
|
Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan or |
|
insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or |
|
after January 1, 2022. |
|
(b) Section 544.605, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, |
|
applies only to a contract entered into on or after the effective |
|
date of this Act. |
|
SECTION 3.03. (a) The changes in law made by this Act to |
|
Title 2, Education Code, apply starting with the 2021-2022 school |
|
year. |
|
(b) The changes in law made by this Act to Title 3, Education |
|
Code, apply starting with the 2021-2022 academic year. |
|
SECTION 3.04. 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. |