This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to provide religious and philosophical exemptions for the immunization of school children. It clarifies the procedures for obtaining these exemptions, requiring parents or legal guardians to submit a written statement annually to request an exemption based on their beliefs. The state health officer is tasked with developing a form to facilitate the exemption process, and a full-time virtual public school student is exempt from the immunization requirements. Additionally, the bill mandates that all public, private, and parochial schools maintain a report detailing the number and percentage of students granted exemptions, which must be updated annually and made publicly available online.

Key changes in the bill include the replacement of the term "commissioner" with "state health officer" in various sections, and the introduction of new subsections that outline the exemption process and reporting requirements. The bill also specifies that no personal identifying information will be included in the reports maintained by schools. Overall, the legislation aims to balance public health requirements with individual rights to religious and philosophical beliefs regarding vaccinations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-3-4