Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 626
       
       
        
       By Senator Smith
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00447-26                                            2026626__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school attendance immunizations;
    3         amending s. 1003.22, F.S.; revising the communicable
    4         diseases for which immunization is required for school
    5         attendance; providing an effective date.
    6          
    7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    8  
    9         Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 1003.22, Florida
   10  Statutes, is amended to read:
   11         1003.22 School-entry health examinations; immunization
   12  against communicable diseases; exemptions; duties of Department
   13  of Health.—
   14         (3) The Department of Health may adopt rules necessary to
   15  administer and enforce this section. The Department of Health,
   16  after consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt
   17  rules governing the immunization of children against, the
   18  testing for, and the control of preventable communicable
   19  diseases. The rules must include procedures for exempting a
   20  child from immunization requirements. Immunizations shall be
   21  required for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella,
   22  pertussis, mumps, tetanus, hepatitis B, chickenpox, haemophilus
   23  influenzae type b, pneumococcal disease, and other communicable
   24  diseases as determined by rules of the Department of Health. The
   25  manner and frequency of administration of the immunization or
   26  testing shall conform to recognized standards of medical
   27  practice. The Department of Health shall supervise and secure
   28  the enforcement of the required immunization. Immunizations
   29  required by this section shall be available at no cost from the
   30  county health departments.
   31         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.