83R7275 KSD-D By: Watson, Davis S.B. No. 1054 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of public school students and of certain entering students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 38.001, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) Each student shall be fully immunized against bacterial meningitis, except as provided by Subsection (c). To satisfy the requirement of this subsection, a student must show proof of a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine and a booster dose in accordance with the recommended immunization schedule adopted by the Department of State Health Services. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules for the implementation of this subsection. SECTION 2. Section 51.9192(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) This section applies only to an entering student at an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education. This section does not apply to a student of an institution who is enrolled only in online or other distance education courses or who is 21 [30] years of age or older. For purposes of this subsection, "entering student" includes: (1) a new student, as defined by Section 51.9191; and (2) a student who previously attended an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education before January 1, 2012, and who is enrolling in the same or another institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester. SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2013, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 38.001(a-1), Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 4. Section 38.001(a-1), Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act to Section 51.9192(b), Education Code, applies beginning with entering students enrolling in public or private or independent institutions of higher education in this state on or after January 1, 2014. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect October 1, 2013.