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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption from certain immunization requirements for |
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medical and veterinary students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 161.0041(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person claiming an exemption from a required |
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immunization based on reasons of conscience, including a religious |
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belief, under Section 161.004 or 161.0053 of this code, Section |
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38.001, 51.9192, or 51.933, Education Code, or Section 42.043, |
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Human Resources Code, must complete an affidavit on a form provided |
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by the department stating the reason for the exemption. This |
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subsection does not apply to a person claiming the exemption using |
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the Internet-based process under Section 51.9192(d-3), Education |
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Code. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0053 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.0053. IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTION FOR MEDICAL OR |
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VETERINARY STUDENT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(2) "Medical school" means: |
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(A) a medical school as defined by Section |
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61.501, Education Code; or |
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(B) any other institution of higher education, or |
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school, department, or college of an institution of higher |
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education, that awards medical degrees. |
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(3) "School of veterinary medicine" means any school, |
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department, or college of an institution of higher education that |
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awards veterinary medicine degrees. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 51.933, Education Code, or any |
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other law, a student enrolled in a medical school or school of |
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veterinary medicine may not be required to receive an immunization |
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as a prerequisite to enrollment or participation in a course |
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offered by the medical school or school of veterinary medicine if |
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the student submits to the school's admitting official: |
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(1) an affidavit signed by the student stating the |
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student declines immunization for reasons of conscience, including |
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a religious belief; or |
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(2) an affidavit or certificate signed by a physician |
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licensed to practice medicine in the United States stating, in the |
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physician's opinion, the required immunization would be injurious |
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to the health and well-being of the student. |
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(c) An affidavit or certificate submitted under Subsection |
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(b) must be submitted to the admitting official not later than the |
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90th day after the date the affidavit or certificate is notarized. |
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An affidavit submitted under Subsection (b)(1) must be on a form |
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described by Section 161.0041. |
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(d) A student who has not received an immunization required |
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by a medical school or school of veterinary medicine for a reason |
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described by Subsection (b) may not be excluded from school during a |
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public health disaster or emergency declared by the commissioner of |
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state health services because of the student's immunization status. |
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SECTION 3. Section 161.0053, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic |
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year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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