HBA-AMW S.B. 31 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 31 By: Zaffirini Higher Education 3/18/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Bacterial meningitis is a contagious and potentially severe infection spread by direct contact, such as coughing, sneezing, kissing, and immediate sharing of unwashed eating utensils. Currently, dormitory residents and schoolchildren may be at a higher risk for contracting bacterial meningitis because of crowded conditions in living and learning environments as well as a lack of information about the disease and how it spreads. Senate Bill 31 requires institutions of higher education and school districts to provide students and parents with information regarding the risks, symptoms, and treatments for bacterial meningitis in a format that ensures the information is reasonably likely to come to the attention of each student or the parent of each student. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 31 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to prescribe procedures by which each institution of higher education is required to provide information relating to bacterial meningitis to new students of the institution. The procedures must provide for the information to be provided in a brochure or other manner so that the information is reasonably likely to come to the attention of each student. The bill requires the board to prescribe the form and content of the information and sets forth what the information must cover. The bill requires the board to implement these provisions as necessary to ensure that the information is provided to new students of institutions of higher education entering those institutions on or after January 1, 2002. The bill requires the board to consult with the Texas Department of Health (TDH) in prescribing the content of the information to be provided to students and to establish an advisory committee to assist the board in the initial implementation of these provisions. The bill provides that the advisory committee must include at least two members who are students at institutions of higher education. The bill authorizes the delivery of such information by alternate means. The bill requires each institution of higher education to obtain from each new student of the institution a confirmation signed or acknowledged by the student that the student has received the information required to be provided to the student and requires the institution to retain the confirmation for not less than two years after the student first enrolls at the institution. The bill requires the board and TDH to encourage private or independent institutions of higher education to provide the information to all new students of those institutions. S.B. 31 requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to prescribe procedures by which each school district is required, beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, to provide information relating to bacterial meningitis to its students and their parents each school year. The procedures must ensure that the information is reasonably likely to come to the attention of the parents of each student. The bill requires TEA to prescribe the form and content of the information and sets forth what the information must cover. The bill requires TEA to consult with TDH in prescribing the content of information to be provided to students and to establish an advisory committee to assist TEA in the initial implementation of these provisions. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.