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Bill

S 2623

Relates to the employment of veterans with disabilities

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 3 co-sponsors

Centralizes immunization exemption processing with the Department of Public Health and standardizes forms to promote herd immunity across child care, schools, camps, and higher edu

SUBSTITUTED BY A4751A
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Bill Summary · S 2623

Summary — S.2623 (2025): "An Act promoting community immunity" (Chapter 111P)

Note up front: the document provided contains conflicting metadata (an initial line referring to an HONOR Act and other sponsor information that appears unrelated). The legislative text included below is a Massachusetts bill that would create a new Chapter 111P, the "Community Immunity Act," and amend existing education and public‑health statutes. This summary focuses on the substantive text of that bill.

Purpose / intent

The bill establishes a statewide framework for immunization requirements, documentation, and exemptions for children and students participating in covered programs (child care, preschool, K–12 schools, recreational camps, and institutions of higher education). It centralizes exemption processing with the Department of Public Health (DPH) and standardizes exemption declaration forms and procedures to promote population (herd) immunity.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds new Chapter 111P (Community Immunity) to the General Laws and requires:

    • All schools (Chapter 76 §15) and institutions of higher learning (Chapter 76 §15C) to comply with Chapter 111P.
    • Repeals Chapter 76 §15D.
    • Amends Chapter 111 §24N to authorize the Department of Public Health to administer Chapter 111P.

  • Definitions included: “covered program” (child care centers, schools K–12, camps, higher‑ed), “department” (DPH), “exemption,” “herd immunity,” “immunization,” “participant,” “provider,” “responsible adult,” and “schedule.”

  • Enrollment documentation (Section 3):

    • Required: immunization records per the DPH schedule, or a DPH-issued exemption acknowledgement, or evidence of being in process to comply.
    • Special allowances: recent in‑state movers (≤90 days) may enroll while making good‑faith efforts; a 30‑day rule after submission of a declaration of exemption.

  • Two exemption types (Section 4):

    • Medical: determined by a licensed provider based on contraindications.
    • Religious: for sincere religious beliefs of the participant or family.

  • Standardized DPH declaration forms (Sections 5–9):

    • DPH must create, publish, and supply separate medical and religious exemption forms (online and hard copy).
    • Medical form must include contraindication checklist, provider‑patient relationship attestation, provider signature, a unique government professional ID, responsible adult signature, and dates.
    • Religious form must attest to a sincere religious belief, include certification that a copy was provided to the participant’s primary health care provider (name/contact) and an acknowledgement from a provider on the primary care team; must state the public‑health risks of refusing immunization; must not require disclosure of specific religious beliefs.
    • Responsible adults submit completed forms to DPH, which will review and issue acknowledgement letters for valid filings.

  • Private covered programs may impose stricter immunization policies but must have a written policy and may not refuse medical exemptions.

Who is affected

  • Participants: children and students in child care, preschool, K–12 (public, private, charter), recreational camps, and higher‑education institutions.
  • Responsible adults: parents or legal guardians.
  • Health care providers: must complete/attest to elements on exemption forms and use their professional ID.
  • Department of Public Health: gains responsibility for form administration, review, and issuance of exemption acknowledgements.
  • Private program operators: subject to new documentation and policy‑disclosure rules.

Administrative and procedural notes / timeline

  • The bill text was filed and reported by the Massachusetts Senate public‑health committee (dates in the provided record include introduction July 31, 2025; committee report Oct 14, 2025).
  • The provided legislative history also shows the measure was later substituted by Assembly bill A4751A (recorded May 14, 2025); records contain duplicate and out‑of‑sequence entries — consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official docket for final status and the text of any substituted/companion bill (A4751/A4751A).

Potential impacts

  • Centralizes exemption processing with DPH and standardizes documentation to reduce inconsistent local practices.
  • May increase administrative workload at DPH for reviewing exemption declarations.
  • Tightens enrollment documentation rules and may limit informal/religious exemption pathways that lack standardized attestation.
  • Allows private programs to require stronger immunization policies but preserves medical exemptions.

If you want, I can: (a) extract the full list of statutory amendments line‑by‑line; (b) compare this version with the substituted A4751A text; or (c) draft a one‑page explainer for parents or school administrators.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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