BILL NUMBER:S4803

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public health law, in relation to immunization of
post-secondary students

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To reduce costs and administrative
burdens on New York colleges and universities.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill amends Public Health Law
§2165(1)(b) to delete from the definition of "student" graduates of
public, private and parochial secondary schools that are located in
New York. The effect of the amendment is to eliminate the requirement
for students who have graduated from New York high schools to provide
college administrators, as a requisite to attending college,
certificates of immunization against measles, mumps and rubella.
Out-of-state and foreign students who attend New York colleges shall
continue to be required to provide certificates of immunization.

JUSTIFICATION:
Pursuant to Public Health Law §2164 all children in New
York must be immunized against measles, mumps and rubella, unless
exempt for health or religious reasons, and must present
              

certification or other evidence of immunization as a requisite to
attend a New York child care center, day nursery, day care agency,
nursery school, kindergarten, elementary, intermediate or secondary
school. That is, prior to attending college or university, every New
York child who has graduated from a secondary school located in New
York must have been immunized. The requirement that such a New York
student present immunization certification as a condition to attend a
New York college or university imposes an unnecessary burden on the
student, the student's parent or guardian, the health care
practitioner who prepares the certificate, and administrators of the
college or university who must collect certificates and monitor
compliance to allow attendance within the time frames set forth in
the statute.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The proposal should reduce costs of colleges and
universities, including the State University of New York and
community colleges under its jurisdiction.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.