103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5043 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-70020 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep.105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a requirement for the Department of Public Health to provide to school districts educational materials on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes. LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5043 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-70020 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep.105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 20 ILCS 2310/2310-700 20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a requirement for the Department of Public Health to provide to school districts educational materials on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes. LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5043 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-70020 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep.105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 20 ILCS 2310/2310-700 20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 20 ILCS 2310/2310-700 20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a requirement for the Department of Public Health to provide to school districts educational materials on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes. LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b A BILL FOR HB5043LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 AN ACT concerning health. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and 5 Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is 6 amended by changing Section 2310-700 as follows: 7 (20 ILCS 2310/2310-700) 8 Sec. 2310-700. Influenza and meningococcal disease and 9 vaccine information; school districts. The Department shall 10 develop, provide, or approve and shall publish informational 11 materials for school districts in this State regarding 12 influenza and influenza vaccinations and meningococcal disease 13 and meningococcal vaccinations in accordance with the latest 14 information provided by the Advisory Committee on Immunization 15 Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 16 (Source: P.A. 100-977, eff. 1-1-19.) 17 (20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep.) 18 Section 10. The Department of Public Health Powers and 19 Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is 20 amended by repealing Section 2310-391. 21 Section 15. The School Code is amended by changing Section 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5043 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-70020 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep.105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 20 ILCS 2310/2310-700 20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 20 ILCS 2310/2310-700 20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a requirement for the Department of Public Health to provide to school districts educational materials on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes. LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b A BILL FOR 20 ILCS 2310/2310-700 20 ILCS 2310/2310-391 rep. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1 LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 2 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 2 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 2 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 27-8.1 as follows: 2 (105 ILCS 5/27-8.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-8.1) 3 Sec. 27-8.1. Health examinations and immunizations. 4 (1) In compliance with rules and regulations which the 5 Department of Public Health shall promulgate, and except as 6 hereinafter provided, all children in Illinois shall have a 7 health examination as follows: within one year prior to 8 entering kindergarten or the first grade of any public, 9 private, or parochial elementary school; upon entering the 10 sixth and ninth grades of any public, private, or parochial 11 school; prior to entrance into any public, private, or 12 parochial nursery school; and, irrespective of grade, 13 immediately prior to or upon entrance into any public, 14 private, or parochial school or nursery school, each child 15 shall present proof of having been examined in accordance with 16 this Section and the rules and regulations promulgated 17 hereunder. Any child who received a health examination within 18 one year prior to entering the fifth grade for the 2007-2008 19 school year is not required to receive an additional health 20 examination in order to comply with the provisions of Public 21 Act 95-422 when he or she attends school for the 2008-2009 22 school year, unless the child is attending school for the 23 first time as provided in this paragraph. 24 A tuberculosis skin test screening shall be included as a 25 required part of each health examination included under this HB5043 - 2 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 3 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 3 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 3 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 Section if the child resides in an area designated by the 2 Department of Public Health as having a high incidence of 3 tuberculosis. Additional health examinations of pupils, 4 including eye examinations, may be required when deemed 5 necessary by school authorities. Parents are encouraged to 6 have their children undergo eye examinations at the same 7 points in time required for health examinations. 8 (1.5) In compliance with rules adopted by the Department 9 of Public Health and except as otherwise provided in this 10 Section, all children in kindergarten and the second, sixth, 11 and ninth grades of any public, private, or parochial school 12 shall have a dental examination. Each of these children shall 13 present proof of having been examined by a dentist in 14 accordance with this Section and rules adopted under this 15 Section before May 15th of the school year. If a child in the 16 second, sixth, or ninth grade fails to present proof by May 17 15th, the school may hold the child's report card until one of 18 the following occurs: (i) the child presents proof of a 19 completed dental examination or (ii) the child presents proof 20 that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after 21 May 15th. A school may not withhold a child's report card 22 during a school year in which the Governor has declared a 23 disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 24 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. The 25 Department of Public Health shall establish, by rule, a waiver 26 for children who show an undue burden or a lack of access to a HB5043 - 3 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 4 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 4 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 4 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 dentist. Each public, private, and parochial school must give 2 notice of this dental examination requirement to the parents 3 and guardians of students at least 60 days before May 15th of 4 each school year. 5 (1.10) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all 6 children enrolling in kindergarten in a public, private, or 7 parochial school on or after January 1, 2008 (the effective 8 date of Public Act 95-671) and any student enrolling for the 9 first time in a public, private, or parochial school on or 10 after January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 11 95-671) shall have an eye examination. Each of these children 12 shall present proof of having been examined by a physician 13 licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a 14 licensed optometrist within the previous year, in accordance 15 with this Section and rules adopted under this Section, before 16 October 15th of the school year. If the child fails to present 17 proof by October 15th, the school may hold the child's report 18 card until one of the following occurs: (i) the child presents 19 proof of a completed eye examination or (ii) the child 20 presents proof that an eye examination will take place within 21 60 days after October 15th. A school may not withhold a child's 22 report card during a school year in which the Governor has 23 declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant 24 to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. 25 The Department of Public Health shall establish, by rule, a 26 waiver for children who show an undue burden or a lack of HB5043 - 4 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 5 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 5 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 5 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of 2 its branches who provides eye examinations or to a licensed 3 optometrist. Each public, private, and parochial school must 4 give notice of this eye examination requirement to the parents 5 and guardians of students in compliance with rules of the 6 Department of Public Health. Nothing in this Section shall be 7 construed to allow a school to exclude a child from attending 8 because of a parent's or guardian's failure to obtain an eye 9 examination for the child. 10 (2) The Department of Public Health shall promulgate rules 11 and regulations specifying the examinations and procedures 12 that constitute a health examination, which shall include an 13 age-appropriate developmental screening, an age-appropriate 14 social and emotional screening, and the collection of data 15 relating to asthma and obesity (including at a minimum, date 16 of birth, gender, height, weight, blood pressure, and date of 17 exam), and a dental examination and may recommend by rule that 18 certain additional examinations be performed. The rules and 19 regulations of the Department of Public Health shall specify 20 that a tuberculosis skin test screening shall be included as a 21 required part of each health examination included under this 22 Section if the child resides in an area designated by the 23 Department of Public Health as having a high incidence of 24 tuberculosis. With respect to the developmental screening and 25 the social and emotional screening, the Department of Public 26 Health must, no later than January 1, 2019, develop rules and HB5043 - 5 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 6 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 6 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 6 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 appropriate revisions to the Child Health Examination form in 2 conjunction with a statewide organization representing school 3 boards; a statewide organization representing pediatricians; 4 statewide organizations representing individuals holding 5 Illinois educator licenses with school support personnel 6 endorsements, including school social workers, school 7 psychologists, and school nurses; a statewide organization 8 representing children's mental health experts; a statewide 9 organization representing school principals; the Director of 10 Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee, the 11 State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee; and 12 representatives of other appropriate State agencies and, at a 13 minimum, must recommend the use of validated screening tools 14 appropriate to the child's age or grade, and, with regard to 15 the social and emotional screening, require recording only 16 whether or not the screening was completed. The rules shall 17 take into consideration the screening recommendations of the 18 American Academy of Pediatrics and must be consistent with the 19 State Board of Education's social and emotional learning 20 standards. The Department of Public Health shall specify that 21 a diabetes screening as defined by rule shall be included as a 22 required part of each health examination. Diabetes testing is 23 not required. 24 Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its 25 branches, licensed advanced practice registered nurses, or 26 licensed physician assistants shall be responsible for the HB5043 - 6 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 7 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 7 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 7 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 performance of the health examinations, other than dental 2 examinations, eye examinations, and vision and hearing 3 screening, and shall sign all report forms required by 4 subsection (4) of this Section that pertain to those portions 5 of the health examination for which the physician, advanced 6 practice registered nurse, or physician assistant is 7 responsible. If a registered nurse performs any part of a 8 health examination, then a physician licensed to practice 9 medicine in all of its branches must review and sign all 10 required report forms. Licensed dentists shall perform all 11 dental examinations and shall sign all report forms required 12 by subsection (4) of this Section that pertain to the dental 13 examinations. Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all 14 its branches or licensed optometrists shall perform all eye 15 examinations required by this Section and shall sign all 16 report forms required by subsection (4) of this Section that 17 pertain to the eye examination. For purposes of this Section, 18 an eye examination shall at a minimum include history, visual 19 acuity, subjective refraction to best visual acuity near and 20 far, internal and external examination, and a glaucoma 21 evaluation, as well as any other tests or observations that in 22 the professional judgment of the doctor are necessary. Vision 23 and hearing screening tests, which shall not be considered 24 examinations as that term is used in this Section, shall be 25 conducted in accordance with rules and regulations of the 26 Department of Public Health, and by individuals whom the HB5043 - 7 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 8 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 8 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 8 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 Department of Public Health has certified. In these rules and 2 regulations, the Department of Public Health shall require 3 that individuals conducting vision screening tests give a 4 child's parent or guardian written notification, before the 5 vision screening is conducted, that states, "Vision screening 6 is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by 7 an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this 8 vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has 9 completed and signed a report form indicating that an 10 examination has been administered within the previous 12 11 months.". 12 (2.5) With respect to the developmental screening and the 13 social and emotional screening portion of the health 14 examination, each child may present proof of having been 15 screened in accordance with this Section and the rules adopted 16 under this Section before October 15th of the school year. 17 With regard to the social and emotional screening only, the 18 examining health care provider shall only record whether or 19 not the screening was completed. If the child fails to present 20 proof of the developmental screening or the social and 21 emotional screening portions of the health examination by 22 October 15th of the school year, qualified school support 23 personnel may, with a parent's or guardian's consent, offer 24 the developmental screening or the social and emotional 25 screening to the child. Each public, private, and parochial 26 school must give notice of the developmental screening and HB5043 - 8 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 9 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 9 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 9 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 social and emotional screening requirements to the parents and 2 guardians of students in compliance with the rules of the 3 Department of Public Health. Nothing in this Section shall be 4 construed to allow a school to exclude a child from attending 5 because of a parent's or guardian's failure to obtain a 6 developmental screening or a social and emotional screening 7 for the child. Once a developmental screening or a social and 8 emotional screening is completed and proof has been presented 9 to the school, the school may, with a parent's or guardian's 10 consent, make available appropriate school personnel to work 11 with the parent or guardian, the child, and the provider who 12 signed the screening form to obtain any appropriate 13 evaluations and services as indicated on the form and in other 14 information and documentation provided by the parents, 15 guardians, or provider. 16 (3) Every child shall, at or about the same time as he or 17 she receives a health examination required by subsection (1) 18 of this Section, present to the local school proof of having 19 received such immunizations against preventable communicable 20 diseases as the Department of Public Health shall require by 21 rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Section and 22 the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. 23 (4) The individuals conducting the health examination, 24 dental examination, or eye examination shall record the fact 25 of having conducted the examination, and such additional 26 information as required, including for a health examination HB5043 - 9 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 10 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 10 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 10 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 data relating to asthma and obesity (including at a minimum, 2 date of birth, gender, height, weight, blood pressure, and 3 date of exam), on uniform forms which the Department of Public 4 Health and the State Board of Education shall prescribe for 5 statewide use. The examiner shall summarize on the report form 6 any condition that he or she suspects indicates a need for 7 special services, including for a health examination factors 8 relating to asthma or obesity. The duty to summarize on the 9 report form does not apply to social and emotional screenings. 10 The confidentiality of the information and records relating to 11 the developmental screening and the social and emotional 12 screening shall be determined by the statutes, rules, and 13 professional ethics governing the type of provider conducting 14 the screening. The individuals confirming the administration 15 of required immunizations shall record as indicated on the 16 form that the immunizations were administered. 17 (5) If a child does not submit proof of having had either 18 the health examination or the immunization as required, then 19 the child shall be examined or receive the immunization, as 20 the case may be, and present proof by October 15 of the current 21 school year, or by an earlier date of the current school year 22 established by a school district. To establish a date before 23 October 15 of the current school year for the health 24 examination or immunization as required, a school district 25 must give notice of the requirements of this Section 60 days 26 prior to the earlier established date. If for medical reasons HB5043 - 10 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 11 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 11 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 11 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 one or more of the required immunizations must be given after 2 October 15 of the current school year, or after an earlier 3 established date of the current school year, then the child 4 shall present, by October 15, or by the earlier established 5 date, a schedule for the administration of the immunizations 6 and a statement of the medical reasons causing the delay, both 7 the schedule and the statement being issued by the physician, 8 advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, 9 registered nurse, or local health department that will be 10 responsible for administration of the remaining required 11 immunizations. If a child does not comply by October 15, or by 12 the earlier established date of the current school year, with 13 the requirements of this subsection, then the local school 14 authority shall exclude that child from school until such time 15 as the child presents proof of having had the health 16 examination as required and presents proof of having received 17 those required immunizations which are medically possible to 18 receive immediately. During a child's exclusion from school 19 for noncompliance with this subsection, the child's parents or 20 legal guardian shall be considered in violation of Section 21 26-1 and subject to any penalty imposed by Section 26-10. This 22 subsection (5) does not apply to dental examinations, eye 23 examinations, and the developmental screening and the social 24 and emotional screening portions of the health examination. If 25 the student is an out-of-state transfer student and does not 26 have the proof required under this subsection (5) before HB5043 - 11 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 12 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 12 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 12 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 October 15 of the current year or whatever date is set by the 2 school district, then he or she may only attend classes (i) if 3 he or she has proof that an appointment for the required 4 vaccinations has been scheduled with a party authorized to 5 submit proof of the required vaccinations. If the proof of 6 vaccination required under this subsection (5) is not 7 submitted within 30 days after the student is permitted to 8 attend classes, then the student is not to be permitted to 9 attend classes until proof of the vaccinations has been 10 properly submitted. No school district or employee of a school 11 district shall be held liable for any injury or illness to 12 another person that results from admitting an out-of-state 13 transfer student to class that has an appointment scheduled 14 pursuant to this subsection (5). 15 (6) Every school shall report to the State Board of 16 Education by November 15, in the manner which that agency 17 shall require, the number of children who have received the 18 necessary immunizations and the health examination (other than 19 a dental examination or eye examination) as required, 20 indicating, of those who have not received the immunizations 21 and examination as required, the number of children who are 22 exempt from health examination and immunization requirements 23 on religious or medical grounds as provided in subsection (8). 24 On or before December 1 of each year, every public school 25 district and registered nonpublic school shall make publicly 26 available the immunization data they are required to submit to HB5043 - 12 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 13 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 13 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 13 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 the State Board of Education by November 15. The immunization 2 data made publicly available must be identical to the data the 3 school district or school has reported to the State Board of 4 Education. 5 Every school shall report to the State Board of Education 6 by June 30, in the manner that the State Board requires, the 7 number of children who have received the required dental 8 examination, indicating, of those who have not received the 9 required dental examination, the number of children who are 10 exempt from the dental examination on religious grounds as 11 provided in subsection (8) of this Section and the number of 12 children who have received a waiver under subsection (1.5) of 13 this Section. 14 Every school shall report to the State Board of Education 15 by June 30, in the manner that the State Board requires, the 16 number of children who have received the required eye 17 examination, indicating, of those who have not received the 18 required eye examination, the number of children who are 19 exempt from the eye examination as provided in subsection (8) 20 of this Section, the number of children who have received a 21 waiver under subsection (1.10) of this Section, and the total 22 number of children in noncompliance with the eye examination 23 requirement. 24 The reported information under this subsection (6) shall 25 be provided to the Department of Public Health by the State 26 Board of Education. HB5043 - 13 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 14 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 14 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 14 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 (7) Upon determining that the number of pupils who are 2 required to be in compliance with subsection (5) of this 3 Section is below 90% of the number of pupils enrolled in the 4 school district, 10% of each State aid payment made pursuant 5 to Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 to the school district for such 6 year may be withheld by the State Board of Education until the 7 number of students in compliance with subsection (5) is the 8 applicable specified percentage or higher. 9 (8) Children of parents or legal guardians who object to 10 health, dental, or eye examinations or any part thereof, to 11 immunizations, or to vision and hearing screening tests on 12 religious grounds shall not be required to undergo the 13 examinations, tests, or immunizations to which they so object 14 if such parents or legal guardians present to the appropriate 15 local school authority a signed Certificate of Religious 16 Exemption detailing the grounds for objection and the specific 17 immunizations, tests, or examinations to which they object. 18 The grounds for objection must set forth the specific 19 religious belief that conflicts with the examination, test, 20 immunization, or other medical intervention. The signed 21 certificate shall also reflect the parent's or legal 22 guardian's understanding of the school's exclusion policies in 23 the case of a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or 24 exposure. The certificate must also be signed by the 25 authorized examining health care provider responsible for the 26 performance of the child's health examination confirming that HB5043 - 14 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 15 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 15 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 15 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 the provider provided education to the parent or legal 2 guardian on the benefits of immunization and the health risks 3 to the student and to the community of the communicable 4 diseases for which immunization is required in this State. 5 However, the health care provider's signature on the 6 certificate reflects only that education was provided and does 7 not allow a health care provider grounds to determine a 8 religious exemption. Those receiving immunizations required 9 under this Code shall be provided with the relevant vaccine 10 information statements that are required to be disseminated by 11 the federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 12 which may contain information on circumstances when a vaccine 13 should not be administered, prior to administering a vaccine. 14 A healthcare provider may consider including without 15 limitation the nationally accepted recommendations from 16 federal agencies such as the Advisory Committee on 17 Immunization Practices, the information outlined in the 18 relevant vaccine information statement, and vaccine package 19 inserts, along with the healthcare provider's clinical 20 judgment, to determine whether any child may be more 21 susceptible to experiencing an adverse vaccine reaction than 22 the general population, and, if so, the healthcare provider 23 may exempt the child from an immunization or adopt an 24 individualized immunization schedule. The Certificate of 25 Religious Exemption shall be created by the Department of 26 Public Health and shall be made available and used by parents HB5043 - 15 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 16 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 16 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 16 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b 1 and legal guardians by the beginning of the 2015-2016 school 2 year. Parents or legal guardians must submit the Certificate 3 of Religious Exemption to their local school authority prior 4 to entering kindergarten, sixth grade, and ninth grade for 5 each child for which they are requesting an exemption. The 6 religious objection stated need not be directed by the tenets 7 of an established religious organization. However, general 8 philosophical or moral reluctance to allow physical 9 examinations, eye examinations, immunizations, vision and 10 hearing screenings, or dental examinations does not provide a 11 sufficient basis for an exception to statutory requirements. 12 The local school authority is responsible for determining if 13 the content of the Certificate of Religious Exemption 14 constitutes a valid religious objection. The local school 15 authority shall inform the parent or legal guardian of 16 exclusion procedures, in accordance with the Department's 17 rules under Part 690 of Title 77 of the Illinois 18 Administrative Code, at the time the objection is presented. 19 If the physical condition of the child is such that any one 20 or more of the immunizing agents should not be administered, 21 the examining physician, advanced practice registered nurse, 22 or physician assistant responsible for the performance of the 23 health examination shall endorse that fact upon the health 24 examination form. 25 Exempting a child from the health, dental, or eye 26 examination does not exempt the child from participation in HB5043 - 16 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043- 17 -LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 17 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 17 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b HB5043 - 17 - LRB103 39160 RJT 69306 b