HB 127

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to immunizations; amending s. 400.426,
3	F.S.; requiring certain assisted living facilities to
4	implement a program to offer residents immunizations
5	against influenza viruses and pneumococcal bacteria;
6	requiring the Department of Health to provide notification
7	annually; amending s. 1003.22, F.S.; requiring each
8	district school board and the governing authority of each
9	private school to provide information to parents
10	concerning meningococcal disease and the vaccine therefor;
11	requiring the Department of Health to adopt rules
12	specifying the age or grade level of students for whom
13	such information will be provided; requiring each district
14	school board and the governing authority of each private
15	school to determine the means and method for the provision
16	of information to parents concerning meningococcal
17	disease; providing an effective date.
18
19	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21	Section 1.  Subsection (13) is added to section 400.426,
22	Florida Statutes, to read:
23	400.426  Appropriateness of placements; examinations of
24	residents; immunization programs.--
25	(13)  Between October 1, or earlier if the vaccine is
26	available, and February 1 of each year, subject to the
27	availability of an adequate supply of the necessary vaccine,
28	each assisted living facility licensed under this part that has
29	11 or more residents shall implement a program to offer
30	immunizations against influenza viruses and pneumococcal
31	bacteria to all residents who are 65 years of age or older, in
32	accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
33	Immunization Practices of the United States Centers for Disease
34	Control and Prevention and subject to the clinical judgment of
35	the responsible practitioner. By September 1 of each year, the
36	department shall send to each assisted living facility covered
37	by this section a reminder notice relating to the facility's
38	responsibilities under this subsection.
39	Section 2.  Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (10) of
40	section 1003.22, Florida Statutes, to read:
41	1003.22  School-entry health examinations; immunization
42	against communicable diseases; exemptions; duties of Department
43	of Health.--
44	(10)  Each district school board and the governing
45	authority of each private school shall:
46	(c)  Provide detailed information concerning the causes,
47	symptoms, and transmission of meningococcal disease; the risks
48	associated with meningococcal disease; and the availability,
49	effectiveness, and known contraindications of any required or
50	recommended vaccine against meningococcal disease to every
51	student's parent, in accordance with the recommended ages of
52	students determined by the Department of Health to be
53	appropriate for the administration of such vaccine. The
54	Department of Health shall adopt rules that specify the age or
55	grade level of students for whom such information shall be
56	provided, consistent with the recommendations of the Advisory
57	Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Centers
58	for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the appropriate
59	age for the administration of the vaccine, and shall make
60	available information concerning the causes, symptoms, and
61	transmission of meningococcal disease; the risks associated with
62	meningococcal disease; and the availability, effectiveness, and
63	known contraindications of any required or recommended vaccine
64	against meningococcal disease to school districts and the
65	governing authorities of each private school. Each district
66	school board and the governing authority of each private school
67	shall determine the means and methods for the provision of such
68	information to students' parents.
69	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.