Assigned to HHS                                                                                                                     FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2442

 

school immunizations; exclusions

Purpose

Expands the list of immunizations that are not required for school attendance to include immunizations for which a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) has been issued.

Background

The Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS) must adopt rules: 1) prescribing required immunizations for school attendance; 2) approving means of immunization and indicating reinforcement of immunizations for diseases; and 3) identifying types of health agencies and health care providers that may sign laboratory evidence of immunity. The rules must include the required doses, recommended optimum ages for administration of the immunizations, persons who are authorized representatives to sign on behalf of a health agency and other necessary actions.

Immunizations for the following are required for k-12 school attendance: 1) hepatitis B;
2) poliomyelitis; 3) measles, mumps and rubella; 4) varicella; 5) diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; and 6) meningococcal disease (DHS). Immunizations for the human papillomavirus along with COVID-19 and its variants are not required for school attendance (A.R.S. § 36-672).

The federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act allows the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. HHS) to declare that an EUA is appropriate. The FDA may then authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions caused by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats when certain criteria are met, including when there are no adequate, approved and available alternatives. An U.S. HHS declaration to support emergency use is required before the FDA issues an EUA, and must be based on one of four types of determinations of threats or potential threats by the Secretary of U.S. HHS, Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Defense (FDA).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Expands the list of immunizations that are not required for school attendance to include immunizations for which a EUA has been issued by the FDA.

2.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.


 

House Action

HHS                1/29/24      DP          6-4-0-0

3rd Read          2/28/24                     31-28-0-0-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 8, 2024

MM/DM/slp