WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 347

Requires certain elections of public officials occur on even-numbered years

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

The bill strengthens protections for physician-issued medical exemptions by requiring confidential Medical Certifications based on independent medical judgment for school admission

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 347

Summary — S.347: An Act relative to the protection of medical exemptions for immunizations for school attendance

Status: Introduced Jan 30, 2025. Hearing (written testimony only) scheduled for 11/03/2025, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Filed as Senate Docket No. 653; replaces SD 653. Petitioned/presented by Peter J. Durant (with listed co-petitioners). Legislative actions through June–October 2025 include committee referrals, favorable reporting without amendment, and House concurrence.

Purpose

The bill amends state school immunization law to (1) define and protect physician-issued medical exemptions for school immunizations (termed “Medical Certification”), (2) establish confidentiality and evidentiary limits for those certifications, and (3) limit disciplinary or adverse employment/affiliation consequences for physicians who issue such certifications absent manifest bad faith.

Key provisions (substantive changes)

  • Creates a required physician “Medical Certification” for school admission when, after personally examining a child, the physician determines the child’s health would be endangered by vaccination or immunizations.
  • Explicitly allows the physician to rely on their independent medical judgment and factors they deem relevant (examples given: increased risk of adverse events, family history, exacerbation of pre‑existing conditions).
  • Requires the Medical Certification be submitted at the beginning of each school year to the physician in charge of the school health program.
  • Declares Medical Certifications confidential: they “shall not be disclosed to any person outside of the school health program.”
  • Bars Medical Certifications from being admissible as evidence in any court, tribunal, or agency proceeding without the child’s parent/guardian’s express written consent.
  • Protects physicians from professional discipline for providing a Medical Certification “in the absence of manifest bad faith.”
  • Prohibits use of Medical Certifications to change or negatively affect a physician’s rating or standing with an employer, insurer, hospital affiliation, or academic affiliation.

Who is affected

  • Students: those seeking medical exemptions to immunization requirements for school attendance.
  • Physicians: those who evaluate children and issue Medical Certifications; gain statutory protections but subject to limitation for “manifest bad faith.”
  • Schools and school health programs: must accept and maintain Medical Certifications and treat them as confidential.
  • Parents/guardians: must provide written consent for any disclosure or use of the certifications in legal/administrative proceedings.
  • Regulatory bodies, employers, insurers, and hospital/academic affiliations: restricted from acting against physicians based on issuance of these certifications except under the bill’s narrow exception.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced and read in the Senate Jan 30, 2025; placed on Senate legislative calendar and reported out without amendment in early Feb 2025.
  • Referred among committees (Environment & Public Works; Education; Public Health) and noted as having House concurrence on listed dates.
  • Formal public consideration includes a written-testimony-only hearing scheduled for Nov 3, 2025.

Potential impacts and considerations (neutral)

  • Strengthens confidentiality and legal protections around medical exemptions, likely increasing legal safeguards for parents and physicians using medical exemptions for school entry.
  • Narrows availability of administrative or evidentiary means to challenge or review physician-issued exemptions (unless parent/guardian consents or manifest bad faith is established).
  • Could affect public-health oversight and monitoring of exemption patterns because of confidentiality and evidentiary limits; implementation details (e.g., how “manifest bad faith” is defined/enforced) will shape enforcement and accountability.

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

Sign in to ask a question.