Bill > HB2009

This bill modifies existing Washington state law regarding exemptions from required immunizations for school-age children. Specifically, it removes the option for parents or legal guardians to exempt their child from immunizations based on a philosophical or personal objection, meaning that only medical exemptions signed by a healthcare practitioner or religious exemptions, under specific circumstances, will be accepted. A healthcare practitioner is defined as a licensed physician, naturopath, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner. The bill also clarifies that for medical exemptions, the healthcare practitioner must certify that they have provided information about the benefits and risks of immunization to the parent or guardian, and this certification can be obtained at any time before enrollment. For religious exemptions, parents are not required to get a healthcare practitioner's signature if they can demonstrate membership in a religious body whose beliefs preclude such medical treatment.