FIRST REGULAR SESSION
[P E R F E C T E D]
SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILLS NOS. 74 & 49
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHAMPION.
Offered April 11, 2005.
Senate Substitute adopted, April 11, 2005.
Taken up for Perfection April 11, 2005. Bill declared Perfected and Ordered Printed, as amended.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
0224S.06P
AN ACT
To amend chapter 191, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to administration of immunizations with mercury preservatives.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 191, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 191.235, to read as follows:
191.235. 1. Beginning April 1, 2007, immunizations administered in the state of Missouri to knowingly pregnant women or children less than three years of age shall not contain more than one microgram of mercury per five-tenths-milliliter dose.
2. Beginning April 1, 2007, any health carrier as defined in section 376.1350, RSMo, doing business in the state of Missouri that provides insurance coverage for immunizations on a fee schedule or on a percentage reimbursement basis shall reimburse for immunizations not containing mercury at the same percentage rate of the usual and customary charges which were provided for immunizations containing mercury or other preservatives immediately prior to April 1, 2007.
3. The director of the department of health and senior services shall exempt the use of a vaccine from compliance with this section if the director finds, and the governor concurs, that an actual or potential public health emergency exists, including an epidemic, outbreak, or shortage for which there does not exist a sufficient supply of vaccine that complies with subsection 1 of this section that would prevent knowingly pregnant women or children less than three year of age from receiving the vaccine. The director shall determine the duration of such exemption.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision in the law to the contrary, no one will be compelled to receive a vaccine that does not comply with the mercury limits in subsection 1.