2017 -- S 0489

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LC000309

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

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

IMMUNIZATIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Raptakis, Kettle, Metts, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

     Referred To: Senate 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 adult influenza

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

childhood immunization program includes administrative and quality assurance services and

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

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

Rhode Island from birth through age 18.

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

be convened after the ACIP makes a recommendation regarding adult 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 adult 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 health care industry and major insurers.

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

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

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

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

precondition for school attendance.

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

any proposed changes to the minimum standards for immunization.

     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

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

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

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

proposed changes to the minimum standards for immunization.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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