What's happening
This bill requires employees at children's overnight and summer camps in New York to be immunized against several diseases, with exemptions for sincere religious beliefs.
Why it matters
Increases safety for children. By requiring camp employees to be immunized against diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and chickenpox (varicella), the bill aims to reduce the risk of outbreaks in environments where children are especially vulnerable.
Aligns camp policies with school standards. Many schools already require these immunizations for students and staff; extending this to camp employees helps ensure consistent public health protections in all child-focused settings.
Provides a religious exemption. The bill balances public health goals with individual rights by allowing employees who have genuine and sincere religious objections to opt out, potentially reducing controversy or claims of government overreach.
May affect camp staffing and operations. Camps will need to implement systems for verifying immunization status and managing exemption claims, which could mean new administrative responsibilities and potential impacts on hiring.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Camp Staff Vaccinations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
738
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to immunization requirements for certain camp employees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1394 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring each children's overnight camp, summer day camp and traveling summer day camp to ensure that employees working at such camps be immunized against mumps, measles, rubella, diphtheria, varicella, pertussis and tetanus. This subdivision shall not apply to employees who hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices required by this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03761-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.