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An Act To Improve Childhood Vaccination Rates in Maine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6355, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 326, §2, is further amended to read:
 
3. Philosophical or religious exemption.   The parent states in writing a sincere religious belief that is contrary to the immunization requirement of this subchapter or an opposition to the immunization for philosophical reasons. The parent seeking a philosophical exemption must include with the statement written documentation signed by a health care practitioner verifying that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The written documentation must be signed by the health care practitioner prior to the enrollment of the child in a school.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §6359, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2001, c. 326, §6, is further amended to read:
 
B.  The student or the parent, if the student is a minor, states in writing a sincere religious belief, whichthat is contrary to the immunization requirement of this subchapter or an opposition to the immunization for philosophical reasons. The parent seeking a philosophical exemption must include with the statement written documentation signed by a health care practitioner verifying that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The written documentation must be signed by the health care practitioner prior to the enrollment of the child in a school.
Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services to amend day care facility rules. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rules regarding immunization of children in licensed day care facilities to require a parent or guardian seeking a philosophical exemption to routine childhood vaccination to present prior to enrollment written documentation signed by a health care practitioner verifying that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent or guardian information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rules amended pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires a parent or guardian who is seeking a philosophical exemption to routine childhood vaccination when enrolling a child in school or a licensed day care facility to present written documentation signed by a health care practitioner that the health care practitioner has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of immunization that is consistent with information published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.