Assigned to HHS FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2442
school immunizations; exclusions
Purpose
Expands the list of immunizations that are not required for school attendance to include
immunizations for which a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use
Authorization (EUA) has been issued.
Background
The Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS) must adopt rules: 1) prescribing
required immunizations for school attendance; 2) approving means of immunization and indicating
reinforcement of immunizations for diseases; and 3) identifying types of health agencies and health
care providers that may sign laboratory evidence of immunity. The rules must include the required
doses, recommended optimum ages for administration of the immunizations, persons who are
authorized representatives to sign on behalf of a health agency and other necessary actions.
Immunizations for the following are required for k-12 school attendance: 1) hepatitis B;
2) poliomyelitis; 3) measles, mumps and rubella; 4) varicella; 5) diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis;
and 6) meningococcal disease (DHS). Immunizations for the human papillomavirus along with
COVID-19 and its variants are not required for school attendance (A.R.S. ยง 36-672).
The federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act allows the Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (U.S. HHS) to declare that an EUA is appropriate. The FDA may then
authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be
used in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or
conditions caused by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats when certain criteria
are met, including when there are no adequate, approved and available alternatives. An U.S. HHS
declaration to support emergency use is required before the FDA issues an EUA, and must be
based on one of four types of determinations of threats or potential threats by the Secretary of U.S.
HHS, Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Defense (FDA).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Expands the list of immunizations that are not required for school attendance to include
immunizations for which a EUA has been issued by the FDA.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET
H.B. 2442
Page 2
House Action
HHS 1/29/24 DP 6-4-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/28/24 31-28-0-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 8, 2024
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