State Health Commissioner; powers during an epidemic, vaccinations, religious tenets or practices. (SB1116)

Introduced By

Sen. Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) with support from co-patron Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Powers of State Health Commissioner in epidemic; vaccine; religious tenets or practices. Allows a parent or guardian to object to the vaccination or immunization of a child on the grounds that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with his religious tenets or practices, even if an emergency or epidemic of disease has been declared by the State Board of Health, which is not allowed under current law. The bill also provides that nothing shall preclude the State Health Commissioner from requiring immediate immunization of all persons in the case of an epidemic of any disease of public health importance for which a vaccine exists other than a person, including a parent or guardian on behalf of a child, who objects on the grounds that the administration of the vaccine conflicts with his religious tenets or practices. Under current law, the only exception to the Commissioner's power to require immediate immunization of all persons in case of an epidemic of any disease of public health importance for which a vaccine exists is for a person to whose health the administration of a vaccine would be detrimental as certified in writing by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth. Read the Bill »

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Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/21/2020Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21101449D
12/21/2020Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/11/2021Impact statement from DPB (SB1116)
01/18/2021Assigned Education sub: Health
01/21/2021Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 5-N) (see vote tally)