Executive Order
RP 25
Relating to increasing the immunization rates
for children in Texas
WHEREAS, immunization from vaccine preventable diseases protects children
who receive the vaccines as well as the people around them, including their
parents, siblings, friends, and playmates who may not have been vaccinated;
and
WHEREAS, vaccines save lives if enough people in a community are vaccinated,
making it more difficult for a vaccine preventable disease to spread; and
WHEREAS, a child who begins and remains on a regular vaccination schedule
will have greater protection from serious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and other potentially life threatening
diseases; and
WHEREAS, as Governor, I have supported legislation to improve the Texas
Department of Health's Immunization Program, and have directed the Department
to improve the policies and outreach programs to help more Texas children
receive protection from vaccine preventable diseases; and
WHEREAS, also last session, I signed five pieces of legislation designed
to comprehensively reform the Immunization Program directed by the Texas Department
of Health; and
WHEREAS, Texas has consistently maintained an immunization rate ranging
from 69.5 percent to 74.9 percent since 1995; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that
the 2002 immunization rate for Texas is 71.3 percent, down from 74.9 percent
in 2001, and that the decrease in immunization rates in Texas is unacceptable;
and
WHEREAS, every single public health partner, every partner in the education
and daycare community, and every Texan is affected by Texas' immunization
rates in our state;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rick Perry, Governor of the State of Texas, by virtue
of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the
State of Texas, do hereby order the following:
1. Focus on Immunizations. The Texas Department of Health shall expedite
the implementation of legislation, which I signed and supported, that was
passed by the 78th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, to create comprehensive
reforms to the public health infrastructure through which the immunization
program in Texas is implemented. This legislation includes:
•House Bill No. 1920 which will improve access to immunizations by
simplifying physicians' enrollment into the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
for which more than 70 percent of Texas children qualify. This legislation
will increase access to immunizations by encouraging provider participation
in VFC and directing the Texas Department of Health to develop education materials
and continuing medical education programs relating to immunizations for physicians.
•House Bill No. 1921 which will improve access to immunizations by
allowing the Department to improve the ImmTrac registry. This bill will help
the Department target efforts to increase immunizations and will help consenting
parents monitor their children's immunization records.
•Senate Bill No. 40 which will require the Department to develop an
ongoing statewide education program to educate the public about the importance
of fully immunizing children as well as the risks and contra-indications that
may be presented by immunizations.
•Senate Bill No. 43 which requires the Department to report to the
Legislature by October 1, 2005, on the results of pilot programs designed
to educate physicians regarding increasing immunization rates in communities
that currently have lower than average immunization rates.
•Senate Bill No. 486 which will supplement the efforts of S.B. No.
40, by requiring the Department to develop new public-private partnerships
and work with existing public-private partnerships to increase awareness of
and support for early childhood immunizations. The Department and the Texas
Education Agency will jointly apply for federal funds to create these partnerships
with private and public, health, service and education organizations including
parent-teacher associations, the United Way, chambers of commerce and athletic
booster clubs. In addition, the bill will encourage other state agencies
that have contact with families to include strategies for increasing childhood
immunizations awareness within their strategic plans.
2. Business Improvement. The Texas Department of Health will continue and
expedite the implementation of the recommendations for improvement of the
Immunization Program, developed in the Business Improvement Review, developed
by the Office of Business Improvement at the Texas Department of Health.
3. Emergency Rule Making. The Texas Department of Health shall implement
through an emergency rule-making process the adoption by the Board of Health
of the shot diptheria, tetanus and pertussis childhood vaccination schedule
recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises
the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention on the most effective means to prevent vaccine-preventable
diseases.
4. "Back to School." The Texas Department of Health will work with existing
local community partners, partners in the medical community, partners in the
education community, partners in the private business community, and partners
in the pre-kindergarten and daycare communities to help educate the public
on the importance of receiving childhood immunizations for children returning
to school and their younger siblings through a "Back to School for Children
and their Siblings" public awareness outreach effort throughout August 2003
and the coming 2004/2005 school year.
5. Increasing Public Awareness. The Texas Department of Health will unveil
a public awareness and media campaign for television and radio to educate
the public on the importance of children receiving appropriate immunizations
for vaccine-preventable diseases. This campaign will initiate the statewide
effort required under S.B. No. 40.
6. Cooperation. All affected agencies and other public entities that work
with Texas families shall cooperate fully with the Texas Department of Health
during the implementation and execution of this comprehensive plan to increase
childhood immunizations.
This executive order supersedes all previous orders inconsistent with its
terms and shall remain in effect and in full force until modified, amended,
rescinded, or superseded by me or by a succeeding Governor.
Given under my hand this the 31st day of July, 2003.
Rick Perry, Governor
TRD-200305100
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, federal law requires state legislatures to redraw congressional
district lines after each decennial census; and
WHEREAS, the Texas legislature has not drawn new district lines to reflect
the changes in Texas population since the results of the last census were
released; and
WHEREAS, the people have placed the power to call and convene the legislature
into special session in the hands of the Chief Executive Office of the State;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, by the authority
vested in me by Article IV, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, do hereby
call a special session of the 78th Legislature, to be convened in the city
of Austin, commencing at 3:15 p.m., Monday, the 28th day of July, 2003, for
the following purpose:
To consider legislation relating to congressional redistricting.
The Secretary of State will take notice of this action and will notify
the members of the Legislature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereto signed my name and have officially
caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin,
Texas, this the 28th day of July, 2003.
Rick Perry, Governor
Attested By: Gwyn Shea, Secretary of State
Message
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH TEXAS
LEGISLATURE, SECOND CALLED SESSION:
WHEREAS, the people of Texas through their state Constitution have placed
the power to call the legislature into special session in the hands of the
Chief Executive Officer of the State; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Seventy-Eighth Texas Legislature, Second Called
Session, have now convened to consider items presented to them by the Governor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of the State of Texas, by the authority
vested in me by Article IV, Section 8 and Article III, Section 40 of the Texas
Constitution, do hereby present the following matter to the Seventy-Eighth
Texas Legislature, Second Called Session for consideration:
Legislation relating to the financing, construction, improvement, maintenance,
and operation of toll facilities by the Texas Department of Transportation
and the disposition of money generated by the driver responsibility program,
fines imposed for certain traffic offenses, and certain fees collected by
the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas; making an appropriation.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal
of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 28th day of July, 2003.
Rick Perry, Governor
Attested By: Gwyn Shea, Secretary of State
Message
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH TEXAS
LEGISLATURE, SECOND CALLED SESSION:
WHEREAS, the people of Texas through their state Constitution have placed
the power to call the legislature into special session in the hands of the
Chief Executive Officer of the State; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Seventy-Eighth Texas Legislature, Second Called
Session, have now convened to consider items presented to them by the Governor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of the State of Texas, by the authority
vested in me by Article IV, Section 8 and Article III, Section 40 of the Texas
Constitution, do hereby present the following matter to the Seventy-Eighth
Texas Legislature, Second Called Session for consideration:
Legislation relating to state fiscal management, including adjustments
to certain school district fiscal matters made necessary by recent changes
in state fiscal management; making related appropriations.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal
of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 28th day of July, 2003.
Rick Perry, Governor
Attested By: Gwyn Shea, Secretary of State
Message
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH TEXAS
LEGISLATURE, SECOND CALLED SESSION:
WHEREAS, the people of Texas through their state Constitution have placed
the power to call the legislature into special session in the hands of the
Chief Executive Officer of the State; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Seventy-Eighth Texas Legislature, Second Called
Session, have now convened to consider items presented to them by the Governor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of the State of Texas, by the authority
vested in me by Article IV, Section 8 and Article III, Section 40 of the Texas
Constitution, do hereby present the following matter to the Seventy-Eighth
Texas Legislature, Second Called Session for consideration:
To consider legislation relating to the reorganization of, efficiency in,
and other reform measures applying to state government.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal
of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 28th day of July, 2003.
Rick Perry, Governor
Attested By: Gwyn Shea, Secretary of State
Message
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH TEXAS
LEGISLATURE, SECOND CALLED SESSION:
WHEREAS, the people of Texas through their state Constitution have placed
the power to call the legislature into special session in the hands of the
Chief Executive Officer of the State; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Seventy-Eighth Texas Legislature, Second Called
Session, have now convened to consider items presented to them by the Governor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of the State of Texas, by the authority
vested in me by Article IV, Section 8 and Article III, Section 40 of the Texas
Constitution, do hereby present the following matter to the Seventy-Eighth
Texas Legislature, Second Called Session for consideration:
Legislation relating to the dates of certain elections, the procedures
for canvassing the ballots for an election, and the counting of certain ballots
voted by mail.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal
of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 29th day of July, 2003.
Rick Perry, Governor
Attested By: Gwyn Shea, Secretary of State
TRD-200305102
PROCLAMATION 41-2969