What's happening
This bill repeals the religious exemption from vaccination requirements in New York's public health law.
Why it matters
Removes religious exemptions for mandatory vaccinations. , meaning all children attending schools and daycare in New York would need to be vaccinated regardless of their family's religious beliefs, unless another exemption (such as medical) applies.
Could lead to higher vaccination rates. among school-aged children, potentially reducing the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and increasing herd immunity in the community.
May affect families who previously relied on religious exemptions. , forcing them to choose between vaccinating their children or finding alternative forms of education (such as homeschooling) if they do not wish to comply.
Raises questions about the balance between public health and individual/religious freedoms. , potentially setting a precedent for similar laws in other states and influencing broader debates about vaccination policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Religious Vaccine Exemptions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
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.
End Religious Vaccine Exemptions
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
52
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to repeal subdivision 9 of section 2164 of the public health law, relating to exemption from vaccination due to religious beliefs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 9 of section 2164 of the public health law is REPEALED.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03760-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to repeal subdivision 9 of section 2164 of the public health law, relating to exemption from vaccination due to religious beliefs
Purpose
This bill would repeal all non-medical exemptions from vaccination requirements for children.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill repeals subdivision 9 of section 2164 of the public health law.
Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Existing New York State law requires all children in New York to receive certain immunizations for poliomyelitis, mumps, measles, diphtheria, rubella, HiB, hepatitis B, and varicella. The law provides an exemption from the immunization requirements where a physician certifies that the immunization may be detrimental to a child's health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, sustaining a high vaccination rate among school children is vital to the prevention of disease outbreaks, including the reestablishment of diseases that have been largely eradicated in the United States, such as measles. According to State data from 2013-2014, there are at least 285 schools in New York with an immunization rate below 85%, including 170 schools below 70%, far below the CDC's goal of at least a 95% vaccination rate to maintain herd immunity. This bill would repeal exemptions currently found in the law for children whose parents have non-medical objections to immunizations.
Prior legislative history
S.6017 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Rules (2015)/Died in Health (2016) A.8329 of 2015-2016 (Dinowitz): Died in Health
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.