Senate Bill S7280

                                BILL NUMBER:S7280

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

PURPOSE:
To reduce costs and administrative burdens on New York colleges and
universities.

SUMMARY OF 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.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.4803/A.7485 - Vetoed memo 30.

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:
Immediate.