TITLE 17. EDUCATION
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL SCHOOL LAW
PART III. PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN
SUBPART A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
17:170.1 Immunizations of persons registering for courses at postsecondary education institutions requirements; exceptions; electronic transmission of immunization compliance reports
A. (1) Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, for the Fall 2006 semester, quarter, or comparable academic period, a person shall provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition of registration for courses at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution.
(2) Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, effective for the Spring 2007 semester, quarter, or comparable academic period and thereafter, a person entering a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution for the first time shall provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition of his initial registration for courses at such institution.
(3) Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, effective for the Spring 2007 semester, quarter, or comparable academic period and thereafter, a person returning to a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution who was not registered for courses at such institution during the Fall 2006 semester, quarter, or comparable academic period and therefore was not subject to the requirement of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition of his initial registration for courses upon returning to such institution.
B. Every public and nonpublic postsecondary education institution shall provide detailed information on the risks associated with meningococcal disease and the availability, effectiveness, and known contraindications of any required or recommended vaccine against meningococcal disease to each person who has been admitted to such institution or to the person's parent, tutor, or legal guardian if the person is a minor.
C. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to the following persons:
(1) Any person who is eighteen years of age or older and who signs a waiver provided by the postsecondary education institution stating that the person has received and reviewed the information provided pursuant to Subsection B of this Section and has chosen not to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease for religious or other personal reasons.
(2) Any person who is a minor and whose parent, tutor, or legal guardian signs a waiver stating that the person has received and reviewed the information provided pursuant to Subsection B of this Section and has chosen for the student not to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease for religious or other personal reasons.
(3) Any person who has submitted a written statement from a physician stating that the procedure is contraindicated for medical reasons or, if a minor, any person whose parent, tutor, or legal guardian has submitted such a statement.
(4) Any person whose course registration is limited to correspondence courses, on-line courses, or any other courses that do not require meeting physically on campus at the postsecondary education institution for any reason or at any time. If such person subsequently registers for courses that meet physically on campus, such person shall be required to provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition of registration for such courses at such institution pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.
(5) Any person who is unable to comply with the provisions of Subsection A of this Section due to a shortage in the supply of available vaccinations against meningococcal disease.
D. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution to provide or pay for vaccinations against meningococcal disease.
E. No person shall have a cause of action for damages for injury, loss, or death against the state or any agency, official, or employee thereof or against any postsecondary education institution, its governing authority, or any official or employee thereof for failure to provide the information required by Subsection B of this Section or for any act or omission in complying with the provisions of this Section.
F. (1) The provisions of this Section shall be implemented according to rules promulgated by the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals including an implementation schedule which shall be based on ensuring a sufficient availability of the required vaccine.
(2) The secretary shall establish a priority of cohorts of students who shall be required to be vaccinated in order to minimize the possibility of an outbreak of meningococcal disease. Such priority shall be established in consultation with the Board of Regents.
(3) The first priority cohorts shall be first-time freshmen and students living in on-campus residential facilities. Such students shall be required to present satisfactory evidence of current vaccination beginning with registration for the Fall 2006 semester, quarter, or comparable academic period as provided in this Section unless the secretary determines that an insufficient supply of vaccine is available. The time by which immunization shall be required for these students in the event of such an insufficient supply and for other cohorts of students to present such evidence to register for classes shall be provided in such schedule.
(4) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals shall provide such rules, including the implementation schedule, to the Board of Regents by not later than August 1, 2006. The Board of Regents shall notify each postsecondary management board and, through such management boards, the chief executive officer of each postsecondary education institution of the requirements of this Section and the rules and schedule for their implementation as provided by this Section.
G. (1) Chief administrators of all postsecondary education institutions whether public or nonpublic shall:
(a) Be responsible for checking students' records to see that the provisions of this Section are enforced.
(b) Electronically transmit immunization compliance reports to the Department of Health and Hospitals, office of public health, when the institution operates an existing student-specific electronic data system, that, as of June 1, 2008, collects detailed information regarding vaccines and immunization dates electronically.
(2) The provisions of this Section which relate to the electronic transmission of data shall be implemented according to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Added by Acts 2006, No. 251, § 1, eff. June 8, 2006. Amended by Acts 2006, No. 711, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 573, § 1.