Bill > HB561

This bill enacts the Parental Clarity on Health Options and Information on Conscientious Exemptions (C.H.O.I.C.E.) Act, which makes several significant changes to immunization requirements and exemption notifications for preschools, child care centers, and schools in Ohio. The bill primarily focuses on expanding and clarifying immunization exemption options, requiring that preschool programs, schools, and child care facilities explicitly notify parents about exemption possibilities whenever they communicate immunization requirements. Specifically, the bill introduces three main types of immunization exemptions: medical contraindications, age-inappropriate immunizations, and exemptions for reasons of conscience (including religious convictions). For each of these settings, the bill mandates that when immunization requirements are communicated through any medium (such as social media, email, newsletters, or videos), the same communication must also clearly outline the available exemptions, including the full text of the exemption law and its legal citation. The bill also establishes a complaint process where individuals can report if an institution fails to provide proper exemption information, with potential consequences including license suspension for repeated non-compliance. Additionally, the bill makes technical amendments to several sections of Ohio's Revised Code related to immunization requirements and child care regulations, ensuring consistent application of these new provisions across different types of child care and educational settings.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb561