HOUSE BILL NO. 465
INTRODUCED BY R. JORE
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING THE RELIGIOUS AND MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FROM IMMUNIZATION; PROVIDING THAT A PRESCHOOL, SCHOOL, OR DAY CARE THAT RECEIVES TAX FUNDS SHALL ACCEPT FOR ATTENDANCE PERSONS FOR WHOM A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION IS FILED; CLARIFYING WHO MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOL; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 20-5-405 AND 52-2-735, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 20-5-405, MCA, is amended to read:
"20-5-405. Medical or religious exemption. (1) When a parent, guardian, or adult who has the responsibility for the care and custody of a minor seeking to attend preschool or school or the person seeking to attend school, if an adult, signs and files with the governing authority, prior to the commencement of attendance each school year, a notarized affidavit on a form prescribed by the department stating that immunization, by artificial means, is contrary to the religious tenets and practices of the signer, immunization of the person seeking to attend the preschool or school may not be required prior to attendance at the preschool or school. The statement must be maintained as part of the person's immunization records. A person who falsely claims a religious exemption is subject to the penalty for false swearing provided in 45-7-202. Preschools and schools that are subsidized in whole or in part by tax funds shall accept for attendance persons for whom a religious exemption from immunization is filed pursuant to this part.
(2) When a parent, guardian, or adult who has the responsibility for the care and custody of a minor seeking to attend preschool or school, or the person seeking to attend school, if an adult, files with the governing authority a written statement signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in any jurisdiction of the United States or Canada stating that the physical condition of the person seeking to attend school or medical circumstances relating to him the person indicate that some or all of the required immunizations are not considered safe and indicating the specific nature and probable duration of the medical condition or circumstances which that contraindicate immunization, he the person is exempt from the requirements of this part to the extent indicated by the physician's statement. The statement must be maintained as part of the person's immunization records. Preschools and schools that are subsidized in whole or in part by tax funds shall accept for attendance persons for whom a medical exemption from immunization is filed pursuant to this part.
(3) Whenever there is good cause to believe that a person for whom an exemption has been filed under this section has a disease or has been exposed to a disease listed in 20-5-403 or will as the result of school attendance be exposed to such disease, the person may be excluded from the preschool or school by the local health officer or the department until the excluding authority is satisfied that the person no longer risks contracting or transmitting that disease."
Section 2. Section 52-2-735, MCA, is amended to read:
"52-2-735. Health protection -- certification required. (1) The department shall adopt rules for the protection of children in day-care centers from the health hazards of inadequate food preparation, poor nutrition, and communicable diseases. Rules adopted by the department must include rules requiring children under 5 years of age to be immunized against Haemophilus influenza type "b" before being admitted for care in the facility unless an exemption has been claimed as provided in 20-5-405. A day-care center that is subsidized in whole or in part by tax funds shall accept for attendance persons for whom a religious exemption or medical exemption from immunization is filed as provided for in 20-5-405.
(2) Local public health authorities shall arrange to provide training to day-care center providers and employees regarding health hazards. Upon successful completion of the training, the local public health authorities shall issue certificates to the providers and employees.
(3) In lieu of training, local public health authorities may elect to inspect facilities and issue certificates of approval to child-care center providers.
(4) Each applicant for a license to operate a day-care center shall submit to the department a certificate issued pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) before the department will issue a license.
(5) The local public health authority may charge the applicant a reasonable fee, not to exceed $25, for any inspection necessary to issue a certificate of approval, or a fee not to exceed the documented cost for training it provides under this section."
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Latest Version of HB 465 (HB0465.01)
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