SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 905
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR HOUSE.
Read 1st time January 26, 2000, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4166S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 167.181, RSMo Supp. 1999, relating to immunizations for students, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 167.181, RSMo Supp. 1999, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 167.181, to read as follows:
167.181. 1. The department of health, after consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the immunization against poliomyelitis, rubella, rubeola, mumps, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, and hepatitis B, to be required of children attending public, private, parochial or parish schools. Such rules and regulations may modify the immunizations that are required of children in this subsection. The immunizations required and the manner and frequency of their administration shall conform to recognized standards of medical practice. The department of health shall supervise and secure the enforcement of the required immunization program. The department of health shall inform the public of all exemptions available whenever immunization schedules are available.
2. It is unlawful for any student to attend school unless [he] such student has been immunized as required [under] pursuant to the rules and regulations of the department of health, and can provide satisfactory evidence of such immunization; except that if he produces satisfactory evidence of having begun the process of immunization, [he] the student may continue to attend school as long as the immunization process is being accomplished in the prescribed manner. It is unlawful for any parent or guardian to refuse or neglect to have his or her child immunized as required by this section, unless the child is properly exempted.
3. This section shall not apply to any child if one parent or guardian objects in writing to his or her school administrator against the immunization of the child, because of religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs or medical contraindications. In cases where any such objection is philosophical, a notarized statement must also be provided annually to the school administrator. If the objection is for reasons of medical contraindications, a statement from a duly licensed physician must also be provided to the school administrator.
4. Each school superintendent, whether of a public, private, parochial or parish school, shall cause to be prepared a record showing the immunization status of every child enrolled in or attending a school under [his] the superintendent's jurisdiction. The name of any parent or guardian who neglects or refuses to permit a nonexempted child to be immunized against diseases as required by the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be reported by the school superintendent to the department of health.
5. The immunization required may be done by any duly licensed physician or by someone under [his] the physician's direction. If the parent or guardian is unable to pay, the child shall be immunized at public expense by a physician or nurse at or from the county, district, city public health center or a school nurse or by a nurse or physician in the private office or clinic of the child's personal physician with the costs of immunization paid through the state Medicaid program, private insurance or in a manner to be determined by the department of health subject to state and federal appropriations, and after consultation with the school superintendent and the advisory committee established in section 192.630, RSMo.
6. Funds for the administration of this section and for the purchase of vaccines for children of families unable to afford them shall be appropriated to the department of health from general revenue or from federal funds if available.
7. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of [section 536.024] chapter 536, RSMo.