Bill Text: NJ A4009 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires residential students at four-year institutions of higher education to receive immunization for meningitis in accordance with recommendations of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-06-01 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A4009 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4009-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires residential students at four-year institutions of higher education to receive immunization for meningitis in accordance with recommendations of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning immunizations for meningococcal disease and amending P.L.2003, c.284.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2003, c.284 (C.18A:62-15.1) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. Beginning in September 2004, a new student enrolling in [a program leading to an academic degree at] a public or private institution of higher education in this State, who resides in a campus dormitory, shall [receive a] have received immunization for meningococcal [vaccination] disease as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a condition of attendance at that institution, except as provided in section 3 of [this act] P.L.2003, c.284 (C.18A:62-15.2).
As used in [this act] P.L.2003, c.284 (C.18A:62-15.1 et seq.), "institution of higher education" means a university or college that provides a four-year program of instruction.
b. A student shall present evidence of the vaccination required pursuant to subsection a. of this section to the institution in a manner prescribed by the institution.
c. The Department of Health [and Senior Services] shall require each public or private institution of higher education in this State to offer the [vaccination] immunization required pursuant to subsection a. of this section to its students through the institution's student health services program or through a contractual agreement with a community health care provider.
d. The Commissioner of Health [and Senior Services] shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to carry out the purposes of subsections a., b. and c. of this section and section 3 of this act.
e. Nothing in [this act] P.L.2003, c.284 (C.18A:62-15.1 et seq.) shall be construed to require a student who does not reside in a campus dormitory to receive [a] immunization for meningococcal [vaccination] disease.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.284, s.2)
2. The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to carry out the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on September 1 next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Health may take administrative action in advance as necessary to effectuate the bill.
STATEMENT
This bill would revise the requirement for residential students in four-year institutions of higher education to receive immunization against meningococcal disease so that immunizations would follow the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Recent outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease have occurred at Princeton University and Rutgers University. The introduction of new meningitis B vaccines and revised recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will help address potential future outbreaks and increase immunizations rate among New Jersey students attending four-year institutions of higher education.
