SB 608
Relating to religious exemption to mandatory vaccination requirements
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- Passed Senate
- Passed House of Delegates
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill modifies West Virginia’s existing law regarding mandatory vaccinations for school children and those in state-regulated child care centers. It allows for a religious exemption from these requirements, enabling parents to exempt their children based on sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill outlines the process for requesting and granting such exemptions, including documentation requirements and appeals procedures.
Key provisions
- Establishes a religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for children.
- Requires parents to provide a certification from a licensed physician to support a religious exemption request.
- Authorizes the commissioner to grant, renew, condition, deny, suspend, or revoke exemptions based on medical evidence.
- Creates an Immunization Officer position to handle exemption requests and appeals.
- Defines penalties for providing false immunization certificates.
- Allows for provisional enrollment while immunization is completed.
- Provides for county health departments to furnish vaccines to families who cannot afford them.
- Outlines an appeal process to the State Health Officer.
Who is affected
- Parents of school-aged children
- School administrators and staff
- State-regulated child care center operators and staff
- Healthcare providers
- Students attending public, private, and parochial schools
Notable changes
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