2021 -- H 6015

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LC001376

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

     Introduced By: Representatives Price, Nardone, and Quattrocchi

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2021

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-1-44. Routine childhood and adult immunization vaccines.

     (a) The department of health shall include in the department's immunization program those

vaccines for routine childhood immunization as recommended by the Advisory Committee for

Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and for routine adult

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

immunization program includes administrative and quality assurance services and the Rhode Island

Child and Adult Immunization Registry (RICAIR), a confidential, computerized information

system that is used to manage statewide immunizations, for all persons in Rhode Island.

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

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

review the ACIP recommendations for the state; assess the vaccine cost and feasibility; and advise

the director of health and the office of the health insurance commissioner regarding insurers and

providers acting on the ACIP immunization recommendation. All recommendations will be posted

on the department of health website. The advisory committee membership shall include, but not be

limited to, a primary care provider, pharmacist, representatives of the nursing home industry, the

home healthcare industry and major insurers.

     (c) For the purpose of protecting patients' information, all personally-identifiable

information obtained pursuant to this section shall be subject to the privacy protections of chapter

37.3 of title 5 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No.

104-191 (HIPAA), as amended.

     (d) The informed consent form shall include language that the vaccine provider has given

the recipient a copy of the vaccine manufacturer's package insert listing the vaccines' ingredients,

contraindications, potential adverse reactions, including death, as well as the vaccine maker and lot

number of the vial administered to the patient.

     SECTION 2. Section 16-38-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-38 entitled "Offenses

Pertaining to Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-38-2. Immunization.

     (a) Every person upon entering any public or private school including any college or

university in this state as a pupil shall furnish to the administrative head of the school evidence that

the person has been immunized against any diseases that may from time to time be prescribed by

regulation of the director of health and tested for tuberculosis, or a certificate from a licensed

physician stating that the person is not a fit subject for immunization for medical reasons, or a

certificate signed by the pupil, if over eighteen (18) years of age, or by the parent or guardian stating

that immunization and/or testing for communicable diseases is contrary to that person's religious

beliefs. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative head of the school to secure compliance

with these regulations.

     (b) The informed consent form shall include language that the vaccine provider has given

the recipient a copy of the vaccine manufacturer's package insert listing the vaccines' ingredients,

contraindications, potential adverse reactions, including death, as well as the vaccine maker and lot

number of the vial administered to the patient.

     (b)(c) Every child more than twenty-four (24) months of age, resident in the state of Rhode

Island, shall be eligible to receive the immunization against meningococcal disease. The

Department of Health shall include meningococcal vaccine in the department's immunization

program, established by § 23-1-44.

     SECTION 3. 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

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     This act would require the immunization informed consent form to include language that

the vaccine provider has given the recipient a copy of the vaccine manufacturer's package insert

listing the vaccines' ingredients, contraindications, potential adverse reactions, including death, as

well as the vaccine maker and lot number.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001376

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