85R8525 SRS-D
By: Cosper H.B. No. 2419
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an exemption for current and former members of the armed
services from the requirement that an incoming student at a public
or private or independent institution of higher education show
proof of vaccination against bacterial meningitis.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.9192, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d-7) and (d-8) to
read as follows:
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (d-7), a student
to whom this section applies or a parent or guardian of the student
must provide to the institution, at the time and in the manner
prescribed by rules adopted by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, a certificate signed by a health practitioner
or an official immunization record evidencing that the student has
received a bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster during
the five-year period preceding the date established by the
coordinating board under Subsection (e).
(d-7) A student to whom this section applies is not required
to comply with Subsection (c) if the student submits to the
appropriate admitting official of the institution, at the time and
in the manner prescribed by rules adopted by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board:
(1) an affidavit confirming the student's current or
former service as a member of the armed forces of the United States;
or
(2) the student's valid military identification card.
(d-8) An institution of higher education or private or
independent institution of higher education may develop and
implement a secure, Internet-based process to be used for an
entering student to submit the information described by Subsection
(d-7) online.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules required by Section 51.9192(d-7), Education
Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable following the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies
beginning with entering students enrolling in public or private or
independent institutions of higher education in this state on or
after January 1, 2018.
SECTION 4. 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, 2017.