| 1 | 1 | | 87R11912 TYPED |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Powell S.B. No. 2022 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a COVID-19 vaccine public awareness campaign. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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| 10 | 10 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 161.01015 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 161.01015. COVID-19 VACCINE PUBLIC AWARENESS |
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| 12 | 12 | | CAMPAIGN. (a) In this section, "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel |
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| 13 | 13 | | coronavirus. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (b) The department shall develop and implement a public |
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| 15 | 15 | | awareness campaign designed to increase awareness of and educate |
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| 16 | 16 | | the public concerning the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 |
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| 17 | 17 | | vaccines that are approved or authorized for emergency use by the |
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| 18 | 18 | | United States Food and Drug Administration. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (c) In implementing the campaign, the department shall seek |
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| 20 | 20 | | to disseminate scientific and evidence-based information and |
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| 21 | 21 | | combat misinformation, with the goal of increasing vaccination |
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| 22 | 22 | | rates, particularly in communities with low rates of vaccination. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (d) The department may pay the costs of the program and its |
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| 24 | 24 | | administration from: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) gifts, grants, or donations; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) federal funds; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) any other money made available for that purpose, |
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| 28 | 28 | | including money specifically appropriated for the campaign and any |
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| 29 | 29 | | other available department revenue. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (e) This section expires September 1, 2023. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 32 | 32 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 33 | 33 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 34 | 34 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 35 | 35 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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