S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8870
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 19, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  instruction
   on vaccine science in every middle school and every high school
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 805 to
 read as follows:
   § 805. INSTRUCTION IN VACCINE SCIENCE.  1.  EVERY  MIDDLE  SCHOOL  AND
 EVERY  HIGH  SCHOOL SHALL INCLUDE AGE-APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION ON VACCINE
 SCIENCE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE REQUIRED CURRICULUM FOR HEALTH EDUCA-
 TION.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARD-
 ING INSTRUCTION ON VACCINE SCIENCE AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY  DEEM  NECES-
 SARY AND DESIRABLE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF PUPILS AND THE COMMUNI-
 TY,  WHICH  SHALL  INCLUDE  BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED TO, INSTRUCTION ON THE
 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES,  THE  EFFECT  OF  VACCINES  ON  THE
 IMMUNE  SYSTEM, DISEASES THAT ARE PREVENTABLE BY VACCINES AND THE SPREAD
 OF SUCH DISEASES, AND VACCINE SAFETY AND TESTING. THE  CONTENTS  MAY  BE
 VARIED  TO  MEET  THE  NEEDS OF PARTICULAR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR PORTIONS
 THEREOF, AND NEED NOT BE UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE STATE, PROVIDED,  HOWEV-
 ER,  THAT  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  SHALL  UTILIZE  EITHER  THE CURRICULUM FOR
 VACCINE SCIENCE INSTRUCTION PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER OR  A  COURSE
 APPROVED  BY THE COMMISSIONER IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY
 THE COMMISSIONER.
   3. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES SHALL PROVIDE THE NEEDED  FACILITIES,  TIME  AND
 PLACE  FOR  THE  INSTRUCTION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION AND SHALL PROVIDE
 LEARNING AIDS AND CURRICULUM  RESOURCE  MATERIALS  WHICH  CONTRIBUTE  TO
 EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS AND LEARNING IN VACCINE SCIENCE.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary
 for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
 to be made on or before such date.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13207-02-1