Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 228 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Lisonbee, Karianne

Final action

Governor Signed 3/26/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• removes provisions about the expiration of a vaccination exemption form;
• requires a school to provide a student's immunization record to a new school when the school transmits a transferring student's school record; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

8
53G-9-303
53G-9-306
0
Public Education Immunization Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Karianne Lisonbee
Senate Sponsor: Kirk A. Cullimore
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions regarding a student's immunization record.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
removes provisions about the expiration of a vaccination exemption form;
requires a school to provide a student's immunization record to a new school when the 
school transmits a transferring student's school record; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53G-9-303
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 328
53G-9-306
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 329
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53G-9-303
 is amended to read:
53G-9-303
. Grounds for exemption from required vaccines -- Renewal.
(1)
A student is exempt from the requirement to receive a vaccine required under Section 
53G-9-305
 if the student qualifies for a medical or personal exemption from the 
vaccination under Subsection 
(2)
 or 
(3)
.
(2)
A student qualifies for a medical exemption from a vaccination required under Section 
53G-9-305
 if the student's legally responsible individual provides to the student's school:
(a)
a completed vaccination exemption form; and
(b)
a written notice signed by a licensed health care provider stating that, due to the 
physical condition of the student, administration of the vaccine would endanger the 
student's life or health.
(3)
A student qualifies for a personal exemption from a vaccination required under Section 
53G-9-305
 if the student's legally responsible individual provides to the student's school 
a completed vaccination exemption form, stating that the student is exempt from the 
vaccination because of a personal or religious belief.
(4)
(a)
A vaccination exemption form 
submitted
that an individual submits
 under this 
section 
is
remains:
(a)
valid for as long as the student remains 
at the school to which the form first is 
presented.
enrolled in the public education system; and
(b)
part of the student's permanent school record, including if the student transfers 
schools, in accordance with Section 
53G-9-306
.
(b)
If the student changes schools before the student is old enough to enroll in 
kindergarten, the vaccination exemption form accepted as valid at the student's 
previous school is valid until the earlier of the day on which:
(i)
the student enrolls in kindergarten; or
(ii)
the student turns six years old.
(c)
If the student changes schools after the student is old enough to enroll in 
kindergarten but before the student is eligible to enroll in grade 7, the vaccination 
exemption form accepted as valid at the student's previous school is valid until the 
earlier of the day on which:
(i)
the student enrolls in grade 7; or
(ii)
the student turns 12 years old.
(d)
If the student changes schools after the student is old enough to enroll in grade 7, 
the vaccination exemption form accepted as valid at the student's previous school is 
valid until the student completes grade 12.
(e)
Notwithstanding Subsections 
(4)(b)
 and 
(c)
, a vaccination exemption form obtained 
through completion of the online education module created in Section 
26B-7-118
 is 
valid for at least two years.
(5)
An LEA that offers both remote and in-person learning options may not deny a student 
who is exempt from a requirement to receive a vaccine under Subsection 
(1)
 to 
participate in an in-person learning option based upon the student's vaccination status.
(6)
Nothing in this section restricts a state or local health department from acting under 
applicable law to contain the spread of an infectious disease.
Section 2, Section 
53G-9-306
 is amended to read:
53G-9-306
. Immunization record part of student's record -- School review 
process at enrollment -- Transfer.
(1)
Each school:
(a)
shall request an immunization record for each student at the time the student enrolls 
in the school;
(b)
may not charge a fee related to receiving or reviewing an immunization record or a 
vaccination exemption form; and
(c)
shall retain an immunization record for each enrolled student as part of the student's 
permanent school record.
(2)
(a)
Within five business days after the day on which a student enrolls in a school, an 
individual designated by the school principal or administrator shall:
(i)
determine whether the school has received an immunization record for the student;
(ii)
review the student's immunization record to determine whether the record 
complies with Subsection 
53G-9-302(1)
; and
(iii)
identify any deficiencies in the student's immunization record.
(b)
If the school has not received a student's immunization record or there are 
deficiencies in the immunization record, the school shall:
(i)
place the student on conditional enrollment, in accordance with Section 
53G-9-308
; 
and
(ii)
within five days after the day on which the school places the student on 
conditional enrollment, provide the notice described in Subsection 
53G-9-308(3)
.
(3)
A school from which a student transfers shall provide the student's immunization record 
to the student's new school
:
(a)
upon request of the student's legally responsible individual
.
; or
(b)
if the school has not transferred the record upon a request under Subsection (3)(a), 
when the school transfers any of the student's records to the new school.
Section 3. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-6-25 1:51 PM