BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1024
88R22154 LRM-D	By: Kolkhorst
	Health & Human Services
	4/13/2023
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The COVID-19 public health emergency has been an unprecedented event, wherein attempts to slow the spread of the virus prompted all levels of government leadership to implement extensive restrictions and limitations on daily activities through lockdowns, masking mandates, and vaccination requirements.

Federal, state, and local public health leaders touted facial masks and vaccination as the primary way to stop the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Yet increasing evidence has called into question the efficacy of masking and vaccination. Most recently, the advisory committee on immunizations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted in October 2022 to recommend that children receive a bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.

Since states often predicate their required school immunization schedules upon federal guidance from the CDC and the nation, it is critical that Texas not require vaccines and booster shots, developed under an emergency-use authorization, to be placed on the permanent school immunization list.

S.B. 1024 seeks to rectify these issues by prohibiting governmental entities from requiring individuals to wear masks or mandate vaccinations. These entities include schools, counties, cities, higher education institutions, and public hospitals.

It also prohibits COVID-19 vaccines and related booster shots from being added to the mandatory Texas school immunization schedule and restricts the authority of the Department of State Health Services and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) from adding vaccines to the Texas school immunization schedule without the legislature's approval.

It also prohibits a licensed healthcare facility from refusing to provide healthcare services to an individual based on the individual's vaccination status or post-transmission recovery of COVID-19, unless the facility is treating patients for oncology or organ transplants. It restricts HHSC from providing Medicaid reimbursement to a healthcare facility that violates this rule.

Finally, it prohibits employers from refusing to hire, discharging, or otherwise discriminating against an individual because the individual has not been vaccinated against COVID-19. It further would prohibit a labor organization from excluding or discriminating on the same basis. Private employers that implement a policy or procedure to exempt individuals for reasons of conscience, or because the individual has a medical condition, and establish procedures that unvaccinated staff must follow to protect other employees from exposure, are exempt from this provision.

Certain healthcare facilities that implement a policy or procedure to exempt individuals because the individual has a medical condition, and establish procedures that unvaccinated staff must follow to protect other employees from exposure, are exempt from this provision. No employers may discriminate or retaliate against an exempt employee.

C.S.S.B. 1024 amends current law relating to preventative health care and public health, including prohibited immunization and face-covering requirements and private business or school closures.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Department of State Health Services is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 38.019, Education Code) of this bill.

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 8 (Section 174.003, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 38.001, Education Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-2), as follows:

(a) Requires each student, except as provided by Subsection (c) (relating to requiring physicians to be responsible for reviewing the immunization history of every child examined or referring the child for immunization), to be fully immunized against the diseases listed in Section 161.004 (Statewide Immunization of Children), Health and Safety Code, rather than requiring students to be fully immunized against diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, mumps, tetanus, and poliomyelitis.

(b-1) Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), each year, to prepare a list of the immunizations required for admission to public schools. Deletes existing text requiring DSHS to prepare a list of the immunizations required under Section 38.001 (Immunization; Requirements; Exceptions) for admission to public schools and of any additional immunizations DSHS recommends for school-age children.

(b-2) Prohibits an elementary or secondary school from requiring a student, as a condition of the student's admission to or continued enrollment in the school, to be vaccinated against the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

SECTION 2. Amends Section 38.019(a), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Requires a school district that maintains an Internet website to post prominently on the website a list, in English and Spanish, of the immunizations required for admission to public school in accordance with, rather than by rules of DSHS adopted under, Section 38.001, and a link to the page on the DSHS Internet website that provides information, rather than where a person is authorized to obtain information, relating to the procedures for claiming an exemption from the immunization requirements of Section 38.001. Deletes existing text requiring a school district that maintains an Internet website to post prominently on the website a list, in English and Spanish, of any immunizations or vaccines recommended for public school students by DSHS. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.91921, as follows:

Sec. 51.91921. PROHIBITION ON PRIVATE OR INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MANDATING COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR STUDENTS. (a) Defines "COVID-19" and "private or independent institution of higher education."

(b) Prohibits a private or independent institution of higher education from requiring a student, as a condition of the student's admission to or continued enrollment in the institution, to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 51.933, Education Code, by amending Subsections (b) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-2), as follows:

(b) Authorizes the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (executive commissioner) to require a student at an institution of higher education who is pursing a course of study in a human or animal health profession to be immunized against the diseases listed in Subsection (a) (relating to authorizing an institution of higher education to require applicants for admission to receive certain immunizations) and against hepatitis B, measles, rabies, and varicella, as applicable. Authorizes the executive commissioner to require those immunizations for any students in times of an emergency or epidemic in a county where the commissioner of the state health services has declared such an emergency or epidemic. Deletes existing text authorizing the executive commissioner to require immunizations against additional diseases for students at any institution of higher education who are pursuing a course of study in a human or animal health profession. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(b-1) Provides that a requirement under Subsection (b) for a student to be immunized against hepatitis B is authorized to apply only to students enrolled in a course of study that involves potential exposure to human or animal blood or bodily fluids. Deletes existing text providing that a rule adopted under Subsection (b) that requires a hepatitis B vaccination for students is authorized to apply only to students enrolled in a course of study that involves potential exposure to human or animal blood or bodily fluids.

(b-2) Prohibits an institution of higher education from requiring a student, as a condition of the student's admission to or continued enrollment in the institution, to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined by Section 51.91921.

SECTION 5. Amends Sections 81.023(a) and (c), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes the executive commissioner to recommend to the legislature immunizations to include on the list of immunizations required for children under Section 161.004. Deletes existing text requiring DSHS to develop immunization requirements for children.

(c) Requires DSHS to cooperate with the State Board of Education (SBOE) in implementing, rather than in formulating and implementing, immunization requirements for students admitted to public or private primary or secondary schools.

SECTION 6. Amends Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 81B, as follows:

CHAPTER 81B. PROHIBITED CORONAVIRUS PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Sec. 81B.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "COVID-19" and "governmental entity."

Sec. 81B.002. PROHIBITED FACE-COVERING MANDATE. Prohibits a governmental entity, notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 81 (Communicable Diseases; Public Health Disasters; Public Health Emergencies) of this code and Chapter 418 (Emergency Management), Government Code, from implementing, ordering, or otherwise imposing a mandate requiring a person to wear a face mask or other face covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sec. 81B.003. PROHIBITED VACCINE MANDATE. Prohibits a governmental entity, notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 81 of this code and Chapter 418, Government Code, from implementing, ordering, or otherwise imposing a mandate requiring a person to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sec. 81B.004. PROHIBITED CLOSURE MANDATE FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS. Prohibits a governmental entity, notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 81 of this code and Chapter 418, Government Code, from implementing, ordering, or otherwise imposing a mandate requiring the closure of a private business, public school, open-enrollment charter school, or private school to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

SECTION 7. Amends Section 161.004(a), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

(a) Requires every child in the state to be immunized against diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, tetanus, and varicella, rather than vaccine preventable diseases caused by infectious agents, in accordance with the schedule prescribed in DSHS rules, rather than with the immunization schedule adopted in DSHS rules. Prohibits the executive commissioner from requiring immunizations against any additional diseases for students admitted to a public or private primary or secondary school.

SECTION 8. Amends Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 174, as follows:

CHAPTER 174. PATIENT RIGHTS

Sec. 174.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "COVID-19" and "health care facility."

Sec. 174.002. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON COVID-19 VACCINATION STATUS. (a) Prohibits a health care facility, except as provided by Subsection (b), from refusing to provide health care services to an individual based on the individual's vaccination status or post-transmission recovery of COVID-19.

(b) Provides that the prohibition under Subsection (a) does not apply to a hospital that requires a COVID-19 vaccination in relation to oncology or transplant care.

Sec. 174.003. MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT PROHIBITED. (a) Provides that the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is prohibited from providing Medicaid reimbursement to a health care facility that violates this chapter, and is required to disenroll the facility from participation as a Medicaid provider.

(b) Authorizes the executive commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 9. Amends Chapter 21, Labor Code, by adding Subchapter H-1, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON COVID-19 VACCINATION STATUS

Sec. 21.421. DEFINITION. Defines "COVID-19."

Sec. 21.422. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON COVID-19 VACCINATION STATUS. (a) Provides that an employer, except as provided by Subsection (d), 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 has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

(b) Provides that 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 has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

(c) Provides that 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 has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

(d) Provides that this section does not apply to:

(1) a health care facility, as defined by Section 224.001 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, that:

(A) implements a policy or procedure to exempt from a required vaccination an individual described by this section who has a medical condition identified as a contraindication or precaution to the vaccination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(B) establishes procedures that an exempt individual is required to follow to protect facility patients from exposure to disease, including the use of gloves, face masks, or other protective medical equipment, based on the level of risk the individual presents to patients by the individual's routine and direct exposure to patients; and

(C) prohibits discrimination or retaliatory action against an exempt individual, except that the required use of protective medical equipment under Paragraph (B) is not considered a retaliatory action for purposes of this paragraph; or

(2) a private employer that:

(A) implements a policy or procedure to exempt from a required vaccination an individual described by this section based on reasons of conscience or because the individual has a medical condition identified as a contraindication or precaution to the vaccination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(B) establishes procedures that an exempt individual is required to follow to protect employees and other individuals from exposure to disease, including the use of gloves, face masks, or other protective medical equipment, based on the level of risk the individual presents to employees and other individuals by the individual's routine and direct exposure to employees and other individuals; and

SECTION 10. Repealer: Section 38.001(b) (relating to authorizing the executive commissioner to modify or delete any immunization requirements against additional diseases as a requirement for certain school admission), as amended by Chapters 43 (H.B. 1098) and 94 (H.B. 1059), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007), Education Code.

SECTION 11. (a) Provides that the changes in law made by this Act to Title 2, Education Code, apply beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

(b) Provides that the changes in law made by this Act to Title 3, Education Code, apply beginning with the 2023�2024 academic year.

SECTION 12. Makes application of Subchapter H-1, Chapter 21, Labor Code, as added by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 13. Requires a state agency, if necessary for implementation of a provision of this Act, to request a waiver or authorization from a federal agency, and authorizes delay of implementation until such a waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 14. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.