The Senate advanced SB460, which would allow religious and philosophical exemptions to the state’s school vaccination requirements, to third reading without amendment on Tuesday.
There were four amendments to the bill offered on Tuesday:
Senator Ryan Weld (R-Brooke) attempted to amend the bill twice, with both amendments centered around allowing private and parochial schools to continue to have compulsory vaccination requirements or allowing them to set their own policies if they chose to do so.
Senator Joey Garcia (D-Marion) attempted to amend the bill to require schools and childcare centers to create and maintain records on the number of exempt students.
Senator Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell) attempted to amend the bill so that the polio vaccine would be the lone vaccine that remained mandatory.
All amendments failed with some bipartisan support.
The bill is up for a vote in the Senate tomorrow. An explanation of the bill in its current form can be found here.
The Senate also introduced bills 511-521.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m.
Afternoon Meetings:
Health at 1 p.m. in 451M
Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W
Morning Meetings for Feb. 19:
Natural Resources at 9:30 a.m. in 208W
