TITLE: Relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of first-time students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education.

SUMMARY: Relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of first-time students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of first-time students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 51.9192(b), (c), and (e), Education Code, are amended to read as follows: (b) This section applies only to a first-time student of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, including a transfer student [ who resides in, or has applied for on-campus housing and been approved to reside in, an on-campus dormitory or other on-campus student housing facility at the institution].(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), 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 evidencing that the student has received a [been vaccinated against] bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster during the five-year period preceding the date established by the coordinating board under Subsection (e).(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with institutions of higher education and private or independent institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules for the administration of this section, including rules establishing the date by which a student who is required to comply with Subsection (c) must have received the vaccination required by that subsection, which may not be later than the 10th day before the first day of the semester or other term in which the student initially enrolls [the date the student initially moves into an on-campus dormitory or other on-campus student housing facility at an institution].SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section 51.9192, Education Code, apply only to first-time students enrolling in public or private or independent institutions of higher education in this state on or after January 1, 2012. SECTION 3. 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.