HP0310, LD 471, item 1, An Act To Improve Childhood Vaccination Rates in Maine

An Act To Improve Childhood Vaccination Rates in Maine

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6355, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 326, §2, is further amended to read:

3. Philosophical or religious exemption. The parent states in writing a sincere religious belief that is contrary to the immunization requirement of this subchapter or an opposition to the immunization for philosophical reasons. The parent seeking a philosophical exemption must include with the statement written documentation signed by a health care practitioner verifying that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The written documentation must be signed by the health care practitioner prior to the enrollment of the child in a school.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §6359, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2001, c. 326, §6, is further amended to read:

B. The student or the parent, if the student is a minor, states in writing a sincere religious belief , which that is contrary to the immunization requirement of this subchapter or an opposition to the immunization for philosophical reasons. The parent seeking a philosophical exemption must include with the statement written documentation signed by a health care practitioner verifying that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The written documentation must be signed by the health care practitioner prior to the enrollment of the child in a school.

Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services to amend day care facility rules. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rules regarding immunization of children in licensed day care facilities to require a parent or guardian seeking a philosophical exemption to routine childhood vaccination to present prior to enrollment written documentation signed by a health care practitioner verifying that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent or guardian information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rules amended pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

This bill requires a parent or guardian who is seeking a philosophical exemption to routine childhood vaccination when enrolling a child in school or a licensed day care facility to present written documentation signed by a health care practitioner that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HP0310 LD 471	Session - 127th Maine Legislature		LR 840 Item 1
	Bill Tracking, Additional Documents	Chamber Status

Bill Tracking		Chamber Status
Amendments	Testimony, Public Hearings & Work Sessions		Committee Information for this Bill
Other Documents			Title & Section

Search Bill Text		Search Bill Status
Bill Directory	Current Committees		Legislative Information
Download MS-Word, Printed PDF		Maine Legislature

Office of Legislative Information 100 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333		voice: (207) 287-1692 fax: (207) 287-1580 tty: (207) 287-6826
Word Viewer for Windows		Disclaimer