SB 262

This bill eliminates the ability to waive the immunization requirement for

schools, child care centers, and nursery schools for the reason of personal conviction.

Under current law, a student admitted to elementary, middle, junior, or senior high

school, a child care center, or a nursery school must, within 30 days of admission,

present evidence of having completed the first immunization for each vaccine

required for the student's grade and being on schedule for the remainder of the basic

and booster immunization series for mumps, measles, rubella, diphtheria, whooping

cough, poliomyelitis, tetanus, and any other diseases the Department of Health

Services specifies by rule. This immunization requirement is waived, however, if the

student or the student's parent, guardian, or legal custodian instead submits a

written statement to the school, child care center, or nursery school objecting to the

immunization for reasons of health, religion, or personal conviction. A school, child

care center, or nursery school may exclude a student who does not meet the

immunization requirement or does not present a waiver and is required to exclude

a student who does not meet the immunization requirement or does not present a

waiver if fewer than 99 percent of the students have complied with the immunization

requirement or presented a waiver. A court may issue an order directing a student

to comply with the immunization requirement or present a waiver by a certain date,

and if the student is not in compliance, the court may require an adult student or the

parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a minor student to pay a forfeiture. This bill

eliminates personal conviction as a reason for a waiver of the immunization

requirement.