2016 -- S 2295

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LC004018

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH--

IMMUNIZATIONS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-1-44 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department

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of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-1-44. Routine childhood and adult immunization vaccines. -- (a) The department

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of health shall include in the department's immunization program those vaccines for routine

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childhood immunization as recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization

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Practices (ACIP) and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and for adult influenza immunization as

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recommended by the ACIP, to the extent permitted by available funds. The childhood

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immunization program includes administrative and quality assurance services and KIDSNET, a

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confidential, computerized child health information system that is used to manage statewide

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immunizations, as well as other public health preventive services, for all children in Rhode Island

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from birth through age 18.

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      (b) The director of the department of health shall appoint an advisory committee that will

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be convened after the ACIP makes a recommendation regarding adult immunization. The

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committee will review the ACIP recommendations for the state, assess the vaccine cost and

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feasibility, and advise the director of health and the office of the health insurance commissioner

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regarding insurers and providers acting on the ACIP adult immunization recommendation. All

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recommendations will be posted on the department of health website. The advisory committee

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membership shall include, but not be limited to, a primary care provider, pharmacist,

 

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representatives of the nursing home industry, the home health care industry and major insurers.

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     (c) Notwithstanding any provisions of this or any other statute or regulation or order to

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the contrary, the department of health shall have no authority to set minimum immunization

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standards for diseases which are not transmissible in a school environment, nor shall the

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department of health have the authority to mandate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination as a

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precondition for school attendance.

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     (d) The director of the department of health shall hold at least three (3) public hearings on

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any proposed changes to the minimum standards for immunization.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH--

IMMUNIZATIONS

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     This act would preclude the department of health from requiring immunization for

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diseases which are not transmittable in a school environment or from mandating human

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papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination as a precondition for school attendance. It would further

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require the director of the department of health to hold at least three (3) public hearings on any

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proposed changes to the minimum standards for immunization.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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