HB444INTRODUCED
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HB444
JPIV4FF-1
By Representatives Butler, Harrison, DuBose, Whorton
RFD: Health
First Read: 18-Mar-25
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5 JPIV4FF-1 03/12/2025 GP (L)lg 2025-1032
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First Read: 18-Mar-25
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would provide that if a
religiously-affiliated private school or church school
requires students to be vaccinated or tested for a
disease, the school must accept religious exemptions to
the requirement.
This bill would specify that a parent or
guardian's written declaration is sufficient
documentation to exempt his or her child from a vaccine
or testing requirement for religious reasons.
This bill would provide that any private school
or church school that fails to accept religious
exemptions to vaccine or testing requirements shall be
subject to corporate income tax and ad valorem tax, may
not claim certain tax exemptions, and is ineligible to
receive CHOOSE Act funding.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to vaccines; to require private schools and
church schools to accept religious exemptions to vaccine or
testing requirements; and to provide penalties for a private
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testing requirements; and to provide penalties for a private
school or church school that fails to comply.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a)(1) No private school or church school,
as defined in Section 16-28-2, Code of Alabama 1975, which is
affiliated with a religious institution may require a student
to receive any vaccine or to be tested for any disease as a
condition of enrollment or attendance unless the private
school or church school offers a religious exemption to the
vaccine or testing requirement.
(2) To be granted a religious exemption, a parent or
guardian of the student may submit a written statement to the
school declaring that he or she wishes to be exempt because
the vaccination or testing conflicts with his or her religious
tenets and practices. The parent or guardian shall not be
required to explain the reason for the exemption, certify the
exemption with any third party, or otherwise receive approval
from the school, a religious institution, or any other entity.
(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any
private school or church school that violates subsection (a):
(1) Shall be subject to corporate income tax and ad
valorem tax and may not claim exemption from taxation under
Sections 40-18-32 or 40-9-1, Code of Alabama 1975, nor any
other provisions of law; and
(2) Shall not be classified as a participating school
or approved as an education service provider for purposes of
the CHOOSE Act, Act 2024-21, 2024 Regular Session, now
appearing as Chapter 6J of Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975, or
otherwise receive any program funds from the CHOOSE Act Fund.
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otherwise receive any program funds from the CHOOSE Act Fund.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2025.
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