Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB626 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R6469 LRM-D
2	2	By: Hall S.B. No. 626
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the affidavit form provided by the Department of State
8	8	Health Services for certain immunization exemptions.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 38.001, Education Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Subsection (c-2) to read as follows:
12	12	(c-2) Notwithstanding this section, an elementary or
13	13	secondary school may not deny admission to a student who fails to
14	14	obtain the immunizations required under this section or to submit
15	15	the affidavit described by Subsection (c)(1)(B) if the student or
16	16	the student's parent or guardian provides to the school's admitting
17	17	official documentation evidencing that a request to obtain the
18	18	affidavit has been submitted to the Department of State Health
19	19	Services under Section 161.0041, Health and Safety Code.
20	20	SECTION 2. Section 51.9192, Education Code, is amended by
21	21	adding Subsection (d-7) to read as follows:
22	22	(d-7) Subsection (c) does not apply to a student who fails
23	23	to obtain a bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster or to
24	24	submit the affidavit described by Subsection (d)(2) if the student
25	25	or the student's parent or guardian provides to the institution
26	26	documentation evidencing that a request to obtain the affidavit has
27	27	been submitted to the Department of State Health Services under
28	28	Section 161.0041, Health and Safety Code.
29	29	SECTION 3. Section 51.933, Education Code, is amended by
30	30	adding Subsection (d-2) to read as follows:
31	31	(d-2) Notwithstanding this section, an institution of
32	32	higher education may not deny admission to a person who fails to
33	33	obtain an immunization required by this section or to submit the
34	34	affidavit described by Subsection (d)(1)(B) if the person or the
35	35	person's parent or guardian provides to the institution's admitting
36	36	official documentation evidencing that a request to obtain the
37	37	affidavit has been submitted to the Department of State Health
38	38	Services under Section 161.0041, Health and Safety Code.
39	39	SECTION 4. Section 161.0041, Health and Safety Code, is
40	40	amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to
41	41	read as follows:
42	42	(c) A person claiming an exemption from a required
43	43	immunization under this section may only obtain the affidavit form
44	44	by submitting a [written] request for the affidavit form to the
45	45	department. The department shall allow a person to electronically
46	46	submit a request for the affidavit form through the department's
47	47	Internet website.
48	48	(c-1) The department shall develop and provide to each
49	49	person who submits a request for the affidavit form a standardized
50	50	receipt confirming submission of the request, regardless of whether
51	51	the request was submitted electronically, in person, or by mail or
52	52	fax.
53	53	SECTION 5. Section 42.043, Human Resources Code, is amended
54	54	by adding Subsection (d-2) to read as follows:
55	55	(d-2) Notwithstanding this section, a facility regulated
56	56	under this chapter may not deny admission to a child who fails to
57	57	obtain the immunizations required under this section or to submit
58	58	the affidavit described by Subsection (d)(2) if the child's parent
59	59	or guardian provides to the facility documentation evidencing that
60	60	a request to obtain the affidavit has been submitted to the
61	61	Department of State Health Services under Section 161.0041, Health
62	62	and Safety Code.
63	63	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
64	64	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
65	65	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
66	66	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
67	67	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.