Rules require immunizations for children in regulated facilities, allow provisional admission in some cases, and let certain affidavits exempt admission from immunization requirements.
Sec. 42.043. RULES FOR IMMUNIZATIONS. (a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules for the immunization of children in facilities regulated under this chapter. (b) The department shall require that each child at an appropriate age be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, mumps, rubella, rubeola, invasive pneumococcal disease, and hepatitis A and against any other communicable disease as recommended by the Department of State Health Services. The immunization must be effective on the date of first entry into the facility. However, a child may be provisionally admitted if the required immunizations have begun and are completed as rapidly as medically feasible. (c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules for the provisional admission of children to facilities regulated under this chapter and may modify or delete any of the immunizations listed in Subsection (b) or require additional immunizations as a requirement for admission to a facility. (d) No immunization may be required for admission to a facility regulated under this chapter if a person applying for a child's admission submits one of the following affidavits: (1) an affidavit signed by a licensed physician stating that the immunization poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of the child or a member of the child's family or household; or (2) an affidavit signed by the child's parent or guardian stating that the applicant declines immunization for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. (d-1) An affidavit submitted under Section (d)(2) must be on a form described by Section 161.0041, Health and Safety Code, and must be submitted not later than the 90th day after the date the affidavit is notarized. (e) Each regulated facility shall keep an individual immunization record for each child admitted, and the records shall be open for inspection by the department at all reasonable times. (f) The Department of State Health Services shall provide the immunizations required by this section to children in areas where there is no local provision of these services. Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2362, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 43, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1063, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.164, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 563 (H.B. 1316), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.218, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 423 (H.B. 2789), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.