(March 12, 2007)--Two legislators who met with Attorney General Greg Abbott say Gov. Rick Perry's anti-cervical cancer vaccine order does not carry the weight of law.

A statement Monday from the lawmakers says Texas health officials aren't required to follow last month's executive order.

Some lawmakers were outraged when Perry ordered the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt a rule requiring the vaccine for girls entering sixth grade as of September 2008.

Senator Jane Nelson of Lewisville and Representative Jim Keffer of Eastland later asked Abbott to clarify the governor's authority on executive orders and the Legislature's ability to overrule them.

The two lawmakers released a statement saying it appears the order is, in effect, an "advisory order" and does not carry the weight of law.]

Perry’s office issued a statement late Monday afternoon that says the debate isn’t about separation of powers, but instead about saving lives.

“If legislators pursue the course of making the HPV vaccine optional, the effect will be that 65 percent fewer women will be vaccinated against a virus that can cause cancer,” the statement said.

The statement says Perry’s order mandating vaccination “merely directs an executive branch state agency to do what the legislature already has empowered them to do: which is to determine whether the HPV vaccine should be added to the list of mandatory school inoculations.”

The order is consistent with current law, the statement says, and nothing was issued Monday that alters the directive.

A Texas House panel is set to vote Tuesday on a bill that would bar state officials from requiring the vaccine for school attendance.

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Central Texas State Senators

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
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Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
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Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
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Central Texas State Representatives

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
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State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
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State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
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State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
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Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
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Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
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Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
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Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
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Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
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Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
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