Legislative Action

Please consider writing letters to your House Representatives in support of House Bill 221, which is entitled Immunization Exemption Amendments.

The legislation has been planned for almost a year, involving Utah NAPNAP members (Lacey Eden and Beth Luthy). Also involved are two physicians from the Utah AAP (Dr. Metcalf and Dr. Cosgrove). The legislation would require parents seeking an immunization exemption to complete an online education module first. The bill sponsor is Representative Carol Spackman Moss. The entire bill can be found at: http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0221.html. The bill does not do away with immunization exemptions, but it requires a renewal of exemption three times during a child's school career (once in Kindergarten, once in 7th grade, and once in 10th grade). Parents seeking an immunization exemption would be required to take an online training course BEFORE the parent can file the exemption.

The problem is, Representative Jake Anderegg proposed a substitution in this morning's session, that would make it easier to obtain an immunization exemption. Representative Anderegg's substitution will undoubtedly have the opposite effect, causing immunization exemptions to rise in Utah.

If you'd like to help, please send an email to your House Representative and ask them to support Representative Moss's bill...NOT Representative Anderegg's substitution bill. Representative Moss's bill will reduce immunization exemption rates and Representative Anderegg's substitution will increase immunization exemption rates. The bill will probably be debated tomorrow (Friday, March 4th) on the House Floor. If you could send a message to your Representative tonight, that would be super helpful. If you have any questions, please contact Beth Luthy at 801-960-0083 (Cell) or via email at beth_luthy@byu.edu. Lacey Eden was on Good Things Utah this morning, talking about the bill: http://www.good4utah.com/good-things-utah/gtu-hot-topics/how-the-latest-immunization-debate-in-utah-could-affect-your-family