HB 1071 -- IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN

SPONSOR:  Phillips

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children
and Families by a vote of 9 to 2.

This bill allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to
develop rules and regulations changing the manner and frequency
of certain immunizations for children.  However, the department
cannot require immunizations for diseases other than those
allowed by statute.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill returns to legislators the
right to decide which immunizations should be required for school
attendance, and the Department of Health and Senior Services will
still be able to determine the manner and frequency, including
zero frequency of these immunizations.  The bill will assure that
future immunizations go through a democratic process before
enforcing students to undergo vaccinations.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Phillips; and
Missouri First.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that it will change
current law that allows the department to add, through the
rule-making process, immunizations required for school and child
care attendance.  Forty-five states authorize their state health
department to add immunizations through administrative rules,
protecting children without long delays in implementation.  Since
1996 when the department received the authority to add
immunizations through the rule-making process, one vaccine has
been added for school attendance and two vaccines for child care
attendance requirements.

Testifying against the bill were Department of Health and Senior
Services; and Missouri Association of Local Public Health
Agencies.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:41 am