Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____ HEALTH AND HUMAN
ERVICES/Children/Children
UMAN SERVICES
77 th Texas Legislature
Minors in Chemical Dependency Rehabilitation Facilities - S.B. 22
by Senator Shapiro, et al
House Sponsors: Representative Smith, et al.
Current law allows minors over the age of 16 who are placed in alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers by a
parent or guardian to check themselves out of treatment without parental notice or consent.
Establishes exceptions for a patient receiving chemical dependency rehabilitation and treatment to refuse a
medication, therapy, or treatment.
Provides criteria for when a treatment facility may admit and release a minor for treatment and
rehabilitation.
Buckle Up Kids for Safety - S.B. 113
by Senators Moncrief and Duncan
House Sponsor: Representative Goolsby
Makes it an offense for a person operating a passenger vehicle to transport a child who is younger than
four years of age or less than 36 inches in height who is not secured in a child passenger safety seat
system according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the system. Previously, it was an offense to
transport a child who was younger than two years without securing the child in such a system or a child at
least two years of age, but younger than four, who was not secured.
Exempts from safety belt requirements persons operating a commercial vehicle registered as a farm
vehicle that does not have a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating of 48,000 pounds or
more.
Makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a person to knowingly install or purport to install an airbag in a vehicle
that does not meets all applicable federal safety regulations for an airbag installed in a vehicle of that make,
model, and year.
Vaccines for Children Program - S.B. 282
by Senator Nelson
House Sponsor: Representative Janek
The vaccines for children program (program) was developed to support increased childhood immunization
levels for eligible children. Over 70 percent of the state's children are eligible for the program and a large
number of health care providers are needed to administer the vaccines.
Requires the Texas Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials designed to
promote the vaccines for children program to eligible health care providers, including Medicaid providers,
not currently enrolled in the program.
Senate Research Center 116