Sec. 38.0025. DISSEMINATION OF BACTERIAL MENINGITIS INFORMATION

(a) The agency shall prescribe procedures by which each school district shall 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 agency shall prescribe the form and content of the information. The information must cover:

(1) the symptoms of the disease, how it may be diagnosed, and its possible consequences if untreated;

(2) how the disease is transmitted, how it may be prevented, and the relative risk of contracting the disease for primary and secondary school students;

(3) the availability and effectiveness of vaccination against and treatment for the disease, and a brief description of the risks and possible side effects of vaccination; and

(4) sources of additional information regarding the disease, including any appropriate office of the school district and the appropriate office of the Texas Department of Health.

(b) The agency shall consult with the Texas Department of Health in prescribing the content of the information to be provided to students under this section. The agency shall establish an advisory committee to assist the agency in the initial implementation of this section. The advisory committee must include at least two members who are parents of students at public schools in this state.

(c) A school district, with the written consent of the agency, may provide the information required by this section to its students and their parents by a method different from the method prescribed by the agency under Subsection (a) if the agency determines that method would be effective in bringing the information to the attention of the parents of each student.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 219, Sec. 2, eff. May 22, 2001.