Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 68.

As described below, this bill prohibits the requirement for certain immunizations if a person files a statement of religious objection to such immunizations.<br /> <br /> GOVERNMENT IMMUNIZATIONS GENERALLY<br /> <br /> This bill prohibits a governmental entity from mandating that a person receive an immunization unless the entity provides an exemption to a person who files a signed, written statement that the immunization conflicts with the person's religious tenets and practices, affirmed under penalty of perjury. If the person files a statement of religious objection to immunization, then the entity is prohibited from requiring any form of proof of the person's religious conviction beyond the signed, written statement.<br /> <br /> SCHOOL IMMUNIZATIONS<br /> <br /> Under present law, it is the responsibility of each parent to ensure that their child or children receive the vaccines recommended by the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Present law authorizes the commissioner of health to designate diseases against which children must be immunized prior to attendance at any school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool, or child care facility of this state. Thereby, it is also the responsibility of the parents or guardian of children to have their children so immunized. However, this requirement does not apply to an immunization, vaccination, or injection for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or a variant of such virus.<br /> <br /> In the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic, the immunization provisions above do not apply to a child whose parent or guardian files a signed, written statement that such immunization and other preventative measures conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the parent or guardian, affirmed under penalty of perjury.<br /> <br /> This bill removes the "in absence of an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic" requirement from the religious exemption to childhood immunizations. It further adds that if a person files a statement of religious objection, then no form of proof of the person's religious conviction beyond the signed, written statement is required.<br />