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 is authorized to grant or deny exemptions based on sufficient medical evidence. Additionally, the bill stipulates that full-time virtual public school students are exempt from the immunization requirements.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that all public, private, and parochial schools maintain a report detailing the number and percentage of students granted exemptions. This report must be updated annually by December 1 and made publicly available online, while ensuring that no personal identifying or health information is included. The bill also replaces references to the "commissioner" with "state health officer" in various sections, emphasizing the role of the state health officer in overseeing immunization exemptions and related processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-3-4