Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that rescinds the religious exemption for mandatory childhood vaccines.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the immunization requirements from applying to any child who is enrolled in 7th grade through 12th grade if the child presented a statement from the parents or guardian of such child that such immunization is contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, and the statement was acknowledged by (Sec. 1.b):

• A judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate;

• A clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal;

• A town clerk;

• A notary public;

• A justice of the peace;

• An attorney admitted to the bar of this state; or 

• A school nurse.

• Specifies this law will take effect on  or before September 1, 2022, or not later than 14 days after transferring to a program operated by a public or nonpublic school under the jurisdiction of a local or regional board of education or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools, whichever is later (Sec. 1.c).

• Specifies if the parents or guardian of any child are unable to pay for any immunization, the expense of such immunization will, on the recommendation of such child's local or regional board of education, or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools, be paid by the town (Sec. 1.d).

• Establishes any child who is enrolled in the 6th grade or below who presented the statement but did not present the written declaration must comply, on or before September 1, 2022, or not later than 14 days after applying to enroll in the family child care home, whichever is later, with the immunization requirements set forth in the regulations (Sec. 6.h).

• Establishes an Advisory Committee on Medically Contraindicated Vaccinations within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of advising the Commissioner of Public Health on issues concerning exemptions from state or federal requirements for vaccinations that result from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse stating that a vaccination is medically contraindicated for a person due to the medical condition of such a person (Sec. 8.a).

• Specifies the advisory committee will consist of the following members (Sec. 8.b):

• 2 appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;

• 2 appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;

• One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who is a school nurse;

• One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a physician assistant;

• One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who is an advanced practice registered nurse;

• One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;

• The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee;

• The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and

• The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee.

• Establishes each individual health insurance policy coverage for immunizations and at least a 20 minute consultation between an individual and a health care provider authorized to administer such immunizations to an individual (Sec. 10.a).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that rescinds the religious exemption for mandatory childhood vaccines.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the immunization requirements from applying to any child who is enrolled in 7th grade through 12th grade if the child presented a statement from the parents or guardian of such child that such immunization is contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, and the statement was acknowledged by (Sec. 1.b):

• A judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate;

• A clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal;

• A town clerk;

• A notary public;

• A justice of the peace;

• An attorney admitted to the bar of this state; or 

• A school nurse.

• Specifies this law will take effect on  or before September 1, 2022, or not later than 14 days after transferring to a program operated by a public or nonpublic school under the jurisdiction of a local or regional board of education or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools, whichever is later (Sec. 1.c).

• Specifies if the parents or guardian of any child are unable to pay for any immunization, the expense of such immunization will, on the recommendation of such child's local or regional board of education, or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools, be paid by the town (Sec. 1.d).

• Establishes any child who is enrolled in the 6th grade or below who presented the statement but did not present the written declaration must comply, on or before September 1, 2022, or not later than 14 days after applying to enroll in the family child care home, whichever is later, with the immunization requirements set forth in the regulations (Sec. 6.h).

• Establishes an Advisory Committee on Medically Contraindicated Vaccinations within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of advising the Commissioner of Public Health on issues concerning exemptions from state or federal requirements for vaccinations that result from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse stating that a vaccination is medically contraindicated for a person due to the medical condition of such a person (Sec. 8.a).

• Specifies the advisory committee will consist of the following members (Sec. 8.b):

• 2 appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;

• 2 appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;

• One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who is a school nurse;

• One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a physician assistant;

• One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who is an advanced practice registered nurse;

• One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;

• The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee;

• The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and

• The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee.

• Establishes each individual health insurance policy coverage for immunizations and at least a 20 minute consultation between an individual and a health care provider authorized to administer such immunizations to an individual (Sec. 10.a).

Full Bill Text