GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 176 2018 Regular Session Leger
STUDENTS: Requires students who are entering eleventh grade or who are 16 and
entering any grade to provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against
meningococcal disease as a condition of school entry
DIGEST
Present law requires:
(1)A student to provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against
meningococcal disease as a condition of entry into sixth grade.
(2)A student who is 11 and entering a grade other than sixth grade to provide such
evidence as a condition of entry into such grade.
(3)A student who is 11 and participating in an approved home study program to provide
such evidence to the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).
Present law excepts from such requirements any person:
(1)Whose parent, tutor, or legal guardian signs a waiver stating that the person shall not
be immunized for religious or other personal reasons.
(2)Whose parent, tutor, or legal guardian has submitted a written statement from a
physician stating that the immunization is contraindicated for medical reasons.
(3)Who is unable to comply due to a shortage in the supply of available vaccinations.
Proposed law retains present law; makes the same requirement a condition of entry into 11th
grade and entry into any grade by a student who is 16; also requires a student who is 16 and
participating in an approved home study program to provide such evidence to BESE.
Proposed law applies present law exceptions to proposed law requirements. Also provides
that satisfactory evidence of current immunization against this disease provided pursuant to
present law and proposed law shall be in accordance with a directive from the state Dept. of
Education and La. Dept. of Health that is based on recommendations of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Present law provides for the following:
(1)Implementation according to LDH rules, including an implementation schedule.
(2)A requirement that LDH provide such rules to the state Dept. of Education (DOE)
and a requirement that DOE notify each school governing authority and the parent
or legal guardian of any student participating in an approved home study program of
present law requirements and the rules and schedule for their implementation.
Proposed law additionally applies such provisions to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that no person seeking to enter any school or facility identified in
proposed law shall be required to comply with the provisions of proposed law if written
dissent is presented to the school.
Effective July 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 17:170.4(A)(1) and (C)(2))
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Specify that satisfactory evidence of current immunization against disease,
instead of being in accordance with recommendations of Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), shall be in accordance with a directive from the
state Dept. of Education and La. Dept. of Health that is based on such
recommendations.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
engrossed bill
1. Provides that no person seeking to enter any school or facility identified in
proposed law shall be required to comply with the provisions of proposed law if
written dissent is presented to the school.
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.