Bill Summary for S 346 (2015-2016)

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Summary date: 

Mar 19 2015

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2015-2016 Session
Senate Bill 346 (Public) Filed Thursday, March 19, 2015
AN ACT ADDRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY FOR THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN BY REVISING IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TO MAKE THESE REQUIREMENTS MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES; TO REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS TO BE SCREENED FOR SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY PRIOR TO IMMUNIZATION; TO AMEND THE MEDICAL EXEMPTION FOR REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS; AND TO REPEAL THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS.
Intro. by Tarte, Barringer, Van Duyn.

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Bill summary

Amends GS 130A-152 as follows. States that it is not the General Assembly's intent to require any child in this state to be immunized, as it is the parent, guardian, or custodian of a child who makes the final determination as to whether or not to immunize the child. Requires each student to be immunized in accordance with this statute in order to attend K-12 school in this state. Adds to the types of immunizations that are required. Requires each child to be screened for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency to determine if the child qualifies for a medical exemption prior to receiving any of the required immunizations. Provides that the immunizations required at specified ages is to be based on recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Provides that when the Commission for Public Health (Commission) requires an additional immunization against a disease or requires an additional vaccine dose based on a new recommendation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the requirement for the additional immunizations is effective beginning with the next academic year. Allows the Commission to exempt from the new requirement children who are or who have been enrolled in school on or before the effective date of the new requirement if they are beyond the age at which vaccination is recommended. Makes conforming changes.

Amends GS 130A-156 to require that the medical contraindications to immunizations that the Commission must adopt by rule be consistent with the General Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Public Health Services, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that a person is not required to receive the specified immunization if the person has tested positive for Server Combined Immunodeficiency. 

Repeals GS 130A-157, which allowed religious exemptions to the immunization requirements.

Effective August 1, 2015, and applies beginning with the 2015-16 academic year.