85R8525 SRS-D     By: Cosper H.B. No. 2419       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an exemption for current and former members of the armed   services from the requirement that an incoming student at a public   or private or independent institution of higher education show   proof of vaccination against bacterial meningitis.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 51.9192, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d-7) and (d-8) to   read as follows:          (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (d-7), a student   to whom this section applies or a parent or guardian of the student   must provide to the institution, at the time and in the manner   prescribed by rules adopted by the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board, a certificate signed by a health practitioner   or an official immunization record evidencing that the student has   received a bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster during   the five-year period preceding the date established by the   coordinating board under Subsection (e).          (d-7)  A student to whom this section applies is not required   to comply with Subsection (c) if the student submits to the   appropriate admitting official of the institution, at the time and   in the manner prescribed by rules adopted by the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board:                (1)  an affidavit confirming the student's current or   former service as a member of the armed forces of the United States;   or                (2)  the student's valid military identification card.          (d-8)  An institution of higher education or private or   independent institution of higher education may develop and   implement a secure, Internet-based process to be used for an   entering student to submit the information described by Subsection   (d-7) online.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall adopt the rules required by Section 51.9192(d-7), Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable following the   effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies   beginning with entering students enrolling in public or private or   independent institutions of higher education in this state on or   after January 1, 2018.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.