HBA-JEK S.B. 579 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 579 By: Van de Putte Public Education 5/4/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Board of Health (board) adopted rules in April 1999 to establish a 16-member School Health Advisory Committee (advisory committee) to advise the board in the support for and delivery of school health services. Senate Bill 579 requires the continued existence of the advisory committee by codifying it in state law. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Board of Health in SECTION 1 (Section 12.171, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 579 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas Board of Health (board) by rule to recommend procedures, minimum standards, and available appropriate funding mechanisms for providing quality health care services to school-aged children in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill requires the board to appoint a 16-member school health advisory committee (advisory committee) to assist the board in performing its duties regarding school-based health care services and sets forth the composition of the advisory committee. The bill specifies that the advisory committee is subject to current law governing state agency advisory committees. S.B. 579 requires the Texas Department of Health to notify each school district in the state at least once in each state fiscal biennium of the availability of the recommended procedures and minimum standards for providing health care services. The bill requires the governing body of each school district to consider implementing the recommended procedures and minimum standards, but does not require the governing body of a district to implement those procedures and standards. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.