HCS SS SCS SB 778 -- HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IMMUNIZATIONS

SPONSOR:  Justus (Cooper, 155)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Health
Care Policy by a vote of 7 to 2.

This substitute requires each public school district to provide
to the Department of Health and Senior Services the names and
addresses of all parents and guardians of female students
entering the sixth grade for the purpose of mailing each parent
or guardian information regarding the connection between human
papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer and that an immunization
against HPV infection is available.

The parent or guardian will be requested to voluntarily provide a
written statement indicating whether the student has received or
is receiving the immunization or that the parent or guardian has
decided not to have the student immunized.  If a parent or
guardian chooses to have the student immunized but is unable to
pay for it, the student will be immunized at public expense in a
manner determined by the department.  Beginning July 1, 2009, the
substitute requires the department to submit a report to the
General Assembly regarding the number of students who have not
been immunized against HPV and the number of non-responses to the
request for voluntary reporting.

A student will not be prevented from attending school if she has
not been immunized against HPV or if her parent or guardian does
not return the written statement.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Unknown
up to $2,249,000 in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.  No impact on
Other State Funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill only provides
information, is not a mandate, and specifies that children will
not be denied entrance to school if they are not vaccinated.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Justus.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm