Bill Text: CT HB07059 | 2017 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Immunization Education.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-17 - Public Hearing 02/21 [HB07059 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2017-HB07059-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 7059
January Session, 2017		LCO No. 3967
		*03967_______KID*
Referred to Committee on COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN
Introduced by:
(KID)

AN ACT CONCERNING IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10-204a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) Each local or regional board of education, or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools, shall require each child to be protected by adequate immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, hemophilus influenzae type B and any other vaccine required by the schedule for active immunization adopted pursuant to section 19a-7f before being permitted to enroll in any program operated by a public or nonpublic school under its jurisdiction. Before being permitted to enter seventh grade, a child shall receive a second immunization against measles. Any such child who (1) presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or local health agency stating that initial immunizations have been given to such child and additional immunizations are in process under guidelines and schedules specified by the Commissioner of Public Health; or (2) presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse stating that in the opinion of such physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse such immunization is medically contraindicated because of the physical condition of such child; or (3) presents a statement from the parents or guardian of such child affirming that such immunization would be contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, and that the parents or guardian of such child participated in the immunization education program administered by the Department of Public Health pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, which statement shall be acknowledged, in accordance with the provisions of sections 1-32, 1-34 and 1-35, by (A) a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate, (B) a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, (C) a town clerk, (D) a notary public, (E) a justice of the peace, (F) an attorney admitted to the bar of this state, or (G) notwithstanding any provision of chapter 6, a school nurse; or (4) in the case of measles, mumps or rubella, presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse or from the director of health in such child's present or previous town of residence, stating that the child has had a confirmed case of such disease; or (5) in the case of hemophilus influenzae type B has passed his fifth birthday; or (6) in the case of pertussis, has passed his sixth birthday, shall be exempt from the appropriate provisions of this section. If the parents or guardians of any child are unable to pay for such immunizations, the expense of such immunizations shall, on the recommendations of such board of education, be paid by the town. Before being permitted to enter seventh grade, the parents or guardian of any child who is exempt on religious grounds from the immunization requirements of this section, pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, shall present to such school a statement that such immunization requirements are contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, which statement shall be acknowledged, in accordance with the provisions of sections 1-32, 1-34 and 1-35, by (A) a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate, (B) a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, (C) a town clerk, (D) a notary public, (E) a justice of the peace, (F) an attorney admitted to the bar of this state, or (G) notwithstanding any provision of chapter 6, a school nurse.

(b) The Department of Public Health shall, within available appropriations, establish an immunization education program, consisting of an audio-visual presentation demonstrating the safety and efficacy of immunization and including information relating to, but not limited to, the scientific theory of herd immunity. Such program shall be made publically available on said department's Internet web site.

[(b)] (c) The definitions of adequate immunization shall reflect the schedule for active immunization adopted pursuant to section 19a-7f and be established by regulation adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 by the Commissioner of Public Health, who shall also be responsible for providing procedures under which said boards and said similar governing bodies shall collect and report immunization data on each child to the Department of Public Health for compilation and analysis by said department.

[(c)] (d) The Commissioner of Public Health may issue a temporary waiver to the schedule for active immunization for any vaccine if the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes a nation-wide shortage of supply for such vaccine.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2017	10-204a

Statement of Purpose:

To require the parents or guardian of a child claiming a religious exemption from immunization to affirm that such parents or guardian participated in an immunization education program administered by the Department of Public Health.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]