Bill Text: IA SF370 | 2011-2012 | 84th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A bill for an act authorizing refusal of vaccinations and immunizations.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-31 - END OF 2011 ACTIONS [SF370 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2011-SF370-Introduced.html
Senate File 370 - Introduced SENATE FILE 370 BY SORENSON A BILL FOR An Act authorizing refusal of vaccinations and immunizations. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 2523XS (2) 84 jp/nh
S.F. 370 Section 1. Section 135.141, subsection 2, paragraph f, Code 1 2011, is amended to read as follows: 2 f. Coordinate the location, procurement, storage, 3 transportation, maintenance, and distribution of medical 4 supplies, drugs, antidotes, and vaccines to prepare for or in 5 response to a public health disaster, including receiving, 6 distributing, and administering items from the strategic 7 national stockpile program of the centers for disease control 8 and prevention of the United States department of health and 9 human services. The provisions of this paragraph relating 10 to distribution of vaccines in response to a public health 11 disaster shall not require the vaccination of any person who 12 refuses the vaccination. 13 Sec. 2. Section 135.142, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended 14 to read as follows: 15 1. The department may purchase and distribute antitoxins, 16 serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other 17 pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies as deemed advisable 18 in the interest of preparing for or controlling a public 19 health disaster. The provisions of this subsection relating 20 to distribution of vaccines in response to a public health 21 disaster shall not require the vaccination of any person who 22 refuses the vaccination. 23 Sec. 3. Section 135.144, subsection 6, Code 2011, is amended 24 to read as follows: 25 6. Vaccinate or order that individuals be vaccinated 26 against an infectious disease and to prevent the spread of 27 communicable or potentially communicable disease. Vaccinations 28 shall be administered by any qualified person authorized to do 29 so by the department. The vaccination shall not be provided 30 or ordered if it is reasonably likely to lead to serious 31 harm to the affected individual or the individual refuses 32 the vaccination . To prevent the spread of communicable or 33 potentially communicable disease, the department may isolate or 34 quarantine, pursuant to chapter 139A and the rules implementing 35 -1- LSB 2523XS (2) 84 jp/nh 1/ 4
S.F. 370 chapter 139A and this division of this chapter , any person who 1 is unable or unwilling to undergo vaccination pursuant to this 2 subsection . 3 Sec. 4. Section 135.146, subsection 2, Code 2011, is amended 4 to read as follows: 5 2. Participation in the vaccination program shall be 6 voluntary, except for first responders who are classified 7 as having occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens as 8 defined by the occupational safety and health administration 9 standard contained in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030. First responders 10 who are so classified shall be required to receive the 11 vaccinations as described in subsection 1 . A first responder 12 shall be exempt from this requirement, however, when a written 13 statement from a licensed physician is presented indicating 14 that a vaccine is medically contraindicated for that person 15 or the first responder signs a written statement that the 16 administration of a vaccination conflicts with religious tenets 17 or that the vaccination is refused . 18 Sec. 5. Section 139A.8, subsection 4, Code 2011, is amended 19 to read as follows: 20 4. a. Immunization is not required for a person’s 21 enrollment in any elementary or secondary school or licensed 22 child care center if either any of the following applies: 23 (1) a. The applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, the 24 applicant’s parent or legal guardian, submits to the admitting 25 official a statement signed by a physician, advanced registered 26 nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who is licensed by 27 the board of medicine, board of nursing, or board of physician 28 assistants that the immunizations required would be injurious 29 to the health and well-being of the applicant or any member of 30 the applicant’s family. 31 (2) b. The applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, the 32 applicant’s parent or legal guardian, submits an affidavit 33 signed by the applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, 34 the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, stating that the 35 -2- LSB 2523XS (2) 84 jp/nh 2/ 4
S.F. 370 immunization conflicts with the tenets and practices of a 1 recognized religious denomination of which the applicant is an 2 adherent or member. 3 c. The applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, the 4 applicant’s parent or legal guardian, submits an affidavit 5 signed by the applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, 6 the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, stating that the 7 immunization is refused. 8 b. The exemptions under this subsection do not apply in 9 times of emergency or epidemic as determined by the state board 10 of health and as declared by the director of public health. 11 EXPLANATION 12 This bill authorizes persons to refuse vaccinations 13 and immunizations by amending Code provisions containing 14 vaccination requirements. 15 The portion of Code section 135.141, relating to the duties 16 of the department of public health concerning the division of 17 acute disease prevention and emergency response and requiring 18 the department to coordinate distribution of vaccines during 19 a public health disaster, is amended to prohibit required 20 vaccination of any person who refuses the vaccination. Code 21 section 135.142, relating to purchase of health care supplies 22 relating to a public health disaster, is similarly amended. 23 Code section 135.144, relating to additional duties of the 24 department during a public health disaster and specifically 25 authorizing the department to provide or order vaccinations, is 26 amended to prohibit providing or ordering vaccination of any 27 person who refuses the vaccination. 28 Code section 135.146, establishing a first responder 29 vaccination program and requiring first responders who are 30 classified as having occupational exposure to blood-borne 31 pathogens, as defined by federal requirements, to receive 32 vaccinations unless medically contraindicated or in conflict 33 with a religious tenet of the first responder, is amended 34 to allow the first responder to refuse by signing a written 35 -3- LSB 2523XS (2) 84 jp/nh 3/ 4
S.F. 370 statement. 1 Code section 139A.8, listing immunizations required 2 of children enrolling in an elementary school, secondary 3 school, or licensed child care center, is amended to allow 4 enrollment if the applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, 5 the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, submits an affidavit 6 signed by the applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, 7 the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, stating that the 8 immunization is refused. In addition, the bill repeals 9 authority to eliminate immunization exemptions during times 10 of emergency or epidemic, as determined by the state board of 11 health and as declared by the director of public health. 12 -4- LSB 2523XS (2) 84 jp/nh 4/ 4
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