Bill > HB2732

This bill modifies West Virginia's existing law on compulsory immunizations for school children by adding a new religious exemption option. Currently, children are required to be immunized against multiple diseases, including chickenpox, hepatitis-b, measles, and others, in order to be admitted to public, private, or state-regulated child care centers. The bill allows parents or guardians to submit a notarized Certificate of Religious Exemption Form to school officials if the administration of vaccines conflicts with their religious tenets or practices. This religious exemption will be considered alongside existing medical exemptions, which require a physician's certification that immunization is contraindicated or poses specific health risks. The bill maintains the existing provisions related to immunization requirements, including the state's responsibility to provide information about immunizations, the ability of county health departments to provide vaccines for families who cannot afford them, and the requirement that health officers issue immunization certificates. The bill also preserves the existing process for medical exemptions, including the ability to appeal exemption decisions to the State Health Officer, while adding this new religious exemption pathway.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=2732&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill