| 1 | 1 | | By: Springer, et al. S.B. No. 403 |
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| 2 | 2 | | (Capriglione, et al.) |
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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 study on the adverse reactions and efficacy of |
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| 8 | 8 | | COVID-19 vaccines. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (1) "Center" means The University of Texas Health |
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| 12 | 12 | | Science Center at Houston. |
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| 13 | 13 | | (2) "COVID-19" means the disease associated with |
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| 14 | 14 | | exposure from: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (A) the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including any variants |
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| 16 | 16 | | of the virus; or |
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| 17 | 17 | | (B) a COVID-19 vaccine injection. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (3) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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| 19 | 19 | | Services. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (4) "Vaccine" means a substance used to stimulate |
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| 21 | 21 | | immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The department, in collaboration |
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| 23 | 23 | | with the center, shall conduct a study to assess the full scope of |
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| 24 | 24 | | adverse reactions, including death, and efficacy of COVID-19 |
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| 25 | 25 | | vaccines used in this state. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) In conducting the study, the department shall compile |
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| 27 | 27 | | information regarding: |
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| 28 | 28 | | (1) the immediate short-term side effects and adverse |
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| 29 | 29 | | reactions experienced by vaccine recipients, including: |
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| 30 | 30 | | (A) pain, swelling, or redness at the vaccine |
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| 31 | 31 | | injection site; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (B) mild fever; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (C) chills; |
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| 34 | 34 | | (D) tiredness; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (E) headache; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (F) muscle or joint aches; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) the immediate serious side effects and adverse |
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| 38 | 38 | | reactions experienced by vaccine recipients, including: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (A) difficulty breathing; |
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| 40 | 40 | | (B) swelling of the face or throat; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (C) accelerated heartbeat; |
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| 42 | 42 | | (D) body rash; |
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| 43 | 43 | | (E) dizziness; and |
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| 44 | 44 | | (F) weakness; |
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| 45 | 45 | | (3) the long-term side effects and adverse reactions |
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| 46 | 46 | | experienced by vaccine recipients, including: |
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| 47 | 47 | | (A) paralysis; |
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| 48 | 48 | | (B) myocarditis; |
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| 49 | 49 | | (C) clotting disorders; |
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| 50 | 50 | | (D) thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome; |
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| 51 | 51 | | (E) Guillain-Barré syndrome; |
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| 52 | 52 | | (F) difficulty thinking or brain fog; |
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| 53 | 53 | | (G) chronic pain; |
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| 54 | 54 | | (H) tiredness or fatigue; |
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| 55 | 55 | | (I) loss of taste; |
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| 56 | 56 | | (J) depression; |
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| 57 | 57 | | (K) anxiety; and |
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| 58 | 58 | | (L) death; and |
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| 59 | 59 | | (4) any misrepresentation or concealment regarding |
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| 60 | 60 | | the efficacy or dangers of vaccination by the vaccine manufacturer |
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| 61 | 61 | | or a governmental agency. |
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| 62 | 62 | | (c) In conducting the study, the department and the center |
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| 63 | 63 | | shall compile and make available information described by |
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| 64 | 64 | | Subsection (b) of this section, including information collected by: |
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| 65 | 65 | | (1) the department, including information collected |
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| 66 | 66 | | by the department's vital statistics unit, and center; |
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| 67 | 67 | | (2) hospitals or treatment centers; |
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| 68 | 68 | | (3) any available survey; |
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| 69 | 69 | | (4) public hearings that involve health care |
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| 70 | 70 | | providers, researchers, injured patients, or the families of |
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| 71 | 71 | | injured patients speaking on COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccine |
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| 72 | 72 | | experiences, including difficulties prescribing or filling |
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| 73 | 73 | | therapeutic prescriptions and difficulties encountered in |
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| 74 | 74 | | hospitals or with any medical boards; and |
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| 75 | 75 | | (5) any other relevant source, including the Vaccine |
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| 76 | 76 | | Adverse Event Reporting System maintained by the Centers for |
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| 77 | 77 | | Disease Control and Prevention and the Defense Medical Epidemiology |
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| 78 | 78 | | Database maintained for the United States Department of Defense. |
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| 79 | 79 | | SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2024, the |
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| 80 | 80 | | department shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant |
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| 81 | 81 | | governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and chairpersons |
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| 82 | 82 | | of legislative standing committees with jurisdiction over health |
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| 83 | 83 | | and safety a written report summarizing the information compiled in |
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| 84 | 84 | | the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action |
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| 85 | 85 | | to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine side effects. The |
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| 86 | 86 | | department may make the report available to the public and post the |
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| 87 | 87 | | report on the department's Internet website. |
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| 88 | 88 | | SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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| 89 | 89 | | SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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| 90 | 90 | | immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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| 91 | 91 | | elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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| 92 | 92 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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| 93 | 93 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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