Senate Bill 2461

AN ACT TO REQUIRE STUDENTS WHO ENROLL IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST HEPATITIS A AND B; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) A person enrolling as a full-time or part-time student at a public or private two-year or four-year college or university in this state shall present evidence of vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B or shall complete vaccinations within nine (9) months of attendance as a condition of continued attendance at that college or university, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(2) The college or university shall provide enrolling persons with educational information of Hepatitis A and B. The college or university is not required to provide or pay for vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B.

(3) A student shall not be required to receive a vaccination based upon one of the following:

(a) A written statement submitted to the college or university by a licensed physician indicating that the vaccine is medically contraindicated shall exempt a person from the vaccination; or

(b) A written statement submitted to the college or university by the student, or the student's parent or guardian if the student is a minor, explaining how the administration of the vaccine conflicts with the bona fide religious tenets or practices of the student, or the parent or guardian, as appropriate, except that a general philosophical or moral objection to the vaccination shall not be sufficient for an exemption on religious grounds.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.