Senate Sponsors: O'MALLEY. Short description: IMMUNIZATION-CONSCIENTIOUS BLF Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Provides that a member of the Immunization Advisory Committee may not contract with or own stock in a pharmaceutical company and that a member of the Committee may not have his or her expenses paid by a pharmaceutical company. Amends the School Code and the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Authorizes parents or legal guardians to object to immunizations based on grounds of a conscientiously held belief. Defines "conscientiously held belief" as a deeply held moral sense of right and wrong used as the guide to making a decision or taking an action. Requires a school or person, at the time the school or person notifies a parent or guardian of the health exam or immunization requirement, to inform the parent or guardian that the child may be exempt from the requirement on religious or medical grounds or on grounds of a conscientiously held belief. Requires the State Board of Education, by rule, to develop procedures to implement the exemptions uniformly in all school districts in the State. Provides that the Director of Public Health may not require immunization against a new preventable communicable disease after the effective date of this amendatory Act unless specifically directed to by statute enacted by the General Assembly after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that employment may not be conditioned on the receipt of immunization for hepatitis B. Provides that an employer of health care professionals who administer immunizations must inform the health care professionals, in writing, that a child may be exempt from immunization requirements on religious or medical grounds or on grounds of a conscientiously held belief. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 01-01-09 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status