Sec. 51.9191. BACTERIAL MENINGITIS INFORMATION FOR NEW STUDENTS

(a) In this section:

(1) "Institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "New student" means a first-time student of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education and includes a student who transfers to the institution from another institution.

(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall prescribe procedures by which each institution of higher education shall 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 coordinating board 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 students of institutions of higher education;

(3) the availability and effectiveness of vaccination against and treatment for the disease, including how students of the institution may seek vaccination or treatment and whether a vaccination is available from the student health center, and a brief description of the risks and possible side effects of vaccination; and

(4) sources of additional information regarding the disease and include the telephone numbers of the student health center, if there is a student health center, and the appropriate office of the Texas Department of Health.

(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall consult with the Texas Department of Health in prescribing the content of the information to be provided to students under this section. The coordinating board shall establish an advisory committee to assist the coordinating board in the initial implementation of this section. The advisory committee must include at least two members who are students at public or private institutions of higher education.

(d) An institution of higher education, with the written consent of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, may provide the information required by this section to new students of the institution by a method different from the method prescribed by the coordinating board under Subsection (b) if the coordinating board determines that method would be effective in bringing the information to the attention of all new students of the institution.

(e) Each institution of higher education shall make reasonable efforts 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 under this section and shall retain the confirmation for not less than two years after the student first enrolls at the institution.

(f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Department of Health shall encourage private or independent institutions of higher education to provide the information prescribed by Subsection (b) to all new students of those institutions.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 219, Sec. 1, eff. May 22, 2001.