Health: immunizations.

Existing law prohibits the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting any person as a pupil of any private or public elementary or secondary school, child care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center, unless prior to his or her first admission to that institution he or she has been fully immunized against various diseases, including hepatitis B, pertussis (whooping cough) , and varicella (chickenpox) , and any other disease deemed appropriate by the State Department of Public Health, taking into consideration the recommendations of specified entities. This bill would add to these entities the American Academy of Family Physicians. This bill would also, in part, remove certain of the age and date restrictions. Existing law makes these provisions, as they relate to varicella (chickenpox) , operative only to the extent that funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act, and authorizes the department to adopt emergency regulations, as specified. This bill would, regarding the varicella (chickenpox) provisions, delete the requirement that it be operative only to the extent that funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act, and delete the department's authorization to adopt emergency regulations. Existing law prohibits the governing authority from unconditionally admitting, or advancing, a pupil into the 7th grade unless the pupil has been fully immunized against hepatitis B. This bill would delete immunizations against hepatitis B as a 7th grade admission or advancement requirement and would, instead, prohibit the governing authority from unconditionally admitting, or advancing, a pupil into the 7th and, for one year, the 8th through 12th grades unless the pupil has been fully immunized, as prescribed, including, but not limited to, having received all pertussis boosters appropriate for that age. By requiring school districts to comply with these requirements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.