What's happening
This bill requires school districts to report annual data on vaccination exemption requests, approvals, and denials to state authorities.
Why it matters
Enables closer monitoring of vaccine exemption trends. By requiring districts to break down exemption requests, approvals, and denials, the state can more precisely track how many families are seeking exemptions and whether those requests are being granted, helping to identify shifts in public attitudes or problems with compliance.
Supports public health response and policy decisions. The annual, detailed reporting gives state officials and lawmakers timely data to respond to outbreaks, craft evidence-based policies, and allocate resources where exemption rates may put communities at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Increases transparency and accountability in exemption processes. Schools and districts must formally account for their exemption decisions, which may discourage inappropriate approvals or denials and reassure the public that exemption policies are being applied consistently and fairly.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Track Vaccine Exemptions in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 3
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Report Vaccine Exemption Numbers
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2955
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CROCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to immunizations for children
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 914 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. a. Each school district receiving at least one request for an exemption from vaccination, pursuant to subdivision nine of section twenty-one hundred sixty-four of the public health law, must report to the department, by June thirtieth of the given year, the following information:
(i) The number of students for which an exemption was requested.
(ii) The number of students for which an exemption was granted.
(iii) The number of students for which an exemption was denied.
b. The department shall compile data reported pursuant to paragraph a of this subdivision, and shall report such data to the legislature and the governor by December first of each year.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided however, paragraph b of subdivision 4 of section 914 of the education law, as added by section one of this act, shall take effect one year after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08605-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to immunizations for children
Purpose of the bill
The purpose of this bill is to collect information concerning the number of religious vaccination waivers that are granted or denied by each school district in this state.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends the education law by requiring each school district that receives at least one request for an exemption pursuant to subdivision 9 of section 2164 of the public health law (religious waiver from vaccinations required for school attendance), to report information concerning the number of requests received, the number of requests granted, and the number of requests denied.
Section two is the effective date.
Existing law
Public health law section 2164(9) provides an exemption from vaccinations required for school attendance to children whose parent or guardian hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the requirement.
Justification
Religious waivers for vaccinations are granted by school districts on a case by case, and sometimes even school by school, basis. This bill will provide the state with a complete accounting of the number of waivers that are granted versus the number of waivers denied.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided however, paragraph b of subdivision 4 of section 914 of the education law, as added by section one of this act, shall take effect one year after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.