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.