Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends the definition for nonmedical exemptions for school immunization policies.

Highlights:

• Defines a “nonmedical exemption” as an immunization exemption based upon either a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunization or a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a student from attending a school in the state until they have presented one of the following to an appropriate school official (Sec. 3):

• An up to date certificate of immunization from a licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, an authorized representative of the department of public health and environment, or a local public health agency stating that the student has received immunization against communicable diseases as specified by the state board of health based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); 

• A written authorization signed by a parent or legal guardian, an emancipated student, or a student 18 years of age or older requesting that local public health officials administer the immunization; or

• A certificate of medical exemption, a certificate of completion of the online education module, or a certificate of nonmedical exemption.

• Exempts a student from complying with the above requirements if the student is participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a charter school to require compliance with the above requirements if a student participating in a nonpublic home-based education program attends the charter school for a portion of the day (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a private school to require compliance with the above requirements if a student participating in a nonpublic home-based education program attends the private school for a portion of the day (Sec. 3).

• Requires the department of public health and environment to develop a standardized document regarding child immunizations that must include (Sec 3):

• A list of the immunizations required for enrollment in a school and the age at which the immunization is required; 

• A list of immunizations currently recommended for children by the advisory committee on immunization practices of the CDC, and the recommended age at which each immunization should be given; 

• A place on the document where a school can include the school’s specific immunization and exemption rates for the measles, mumps, rubella vaccines for the school’s enrolled student population for the prior school year, compared to the vaccinated children standard; and

• A statement that the school is required to collect and report the information, and that the school does not control the school’s specific immunization and exemption rates or establish the vaccinated children standard. 

• Appropriates $42,000 for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to the department of public health and environment to implement this bill (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends the definition for nonmedical exemptions for school immunization policies.

Highlights:

• Defines a “nonmedical exemption” as an immunization exemption based upon either a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunization or a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a student from attending a school in the state until they have presented one of the following to an appropriate school official (Sec. 3):

• An up to date certificate of immunization from a licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, an authorized representative of the department of public health and environment, or a local public health agency stating that the student has received immunization against communicable diseases as specified by the state board of health based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); 

• A written authorization signed by a parent or legal guardian, an emancipated student, or a student 18 years of age or older requesting that local public health officials administer the immunization; or

• A certificate of medical exemption, a certificate of completion of the online education module, or a certificate of nonmedical exemption.

• Exempts a student from complying with the above requirements if the student is participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a charter school to require compliance with the above requirements if a student participating in a nonpublic home-based education program attends the charter school for a portion of the day (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a private school to require compliance with the above requirements if a student participating in a nonpublic home-based education program attends the private school for a portion of the day (Sec. 3).

• Requires the department of public health and environment to develop a standardized document regarding child immunizations that must include (Sec 3):

• A list of the immunizations required for enrollment in a school and the age at which the immunization is required; 

• A list of immunizations currently recommended for children by the advisory committee on immunization practices of the CDC, and the recommended age at which each immunization should be given; 

• A place on the document where a school can include the school’s specific immunization and exemption rates for the measles, mumps, rubella vaccines for the school’s enrolled student population for the prior school year, compared to the vaccinated children standard; and

• A statement that the school is required to collect and report the information, and that the school does not control the school’s specific immunization and exemption rates or establish the vaccinated children standard. 

• Appropriates $42,000 for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to the department of public health and environment to implement this bill (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the definition for nonmedical exemptions for school immunization policies.

Highlights:

• Defines a “nonmedical exemption” as an immunization exemption based upon either a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunization or a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a student from attending a school in the state until they have presented one of the following to an appropriate school official (Sec. 3):

• An up to date certificate of immunization from a licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, an authorized representative of the department of public health and environment, or a local public health agency stating that the student has received immunization against communicable diseases as specified by the state board of health based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); 

• A written authorization signed by a parent or legal guardian, an emancipated student, or a student 18 years of age or older requesting that local public health officials administer the immunization; or

• A certificate of medical exemption, a certificate of completion of the online education module, or a certificate of nonmedical exemption.

• Exempts a student from complying with the above requirements if the student is participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes a charter school to require compliance with the above requirements if a student participating in a nonpublic home-based education program attends the charter school for a portion of the day (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a private school to require compliance with the above requirements if a student participating in a nonpublic home-based education program attends the private school for a portion of the day (Sec. 3).

• Requires the department of public health and environment to develop a standardized document regarding child immunizations that must include (Sec 3):

• A list of the immunizations required for enrollment in a school and the age at which the immunization is required; 

• A list of immunizations currently recommended for children by the advice of immunization practices by the CDC, and the recommended age at which each immunization should be given; 

• A place on the document where a school can include the school’s specific immunization and exemption rates for the measles, mumps, rubella vaccines for the school’s enrolled student population for the prior school year, compared to the vaccinated children standard; and

• A statement that the school is required to collect and report the information, and that the school does not control the school’s specific immunization and exemption rates or establish the vaccinated children standard. 

• Appropriates $42,000 for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to the department of public health and environment to implement this bill (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text