Senate Bill 2700

AN ACT TO DIRECT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS AND HOME SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PARENTS WITH APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ABOUT MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE; TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DISEASE TO BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Local school boards shall ensure that all public schools and agricultural high schools provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal disease and the effectiveness of vaccination against meningococcal disease at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms and means by which meningococcal disease is spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a local school board or school to provide or purchase vaccine against meningococcal disease.

(2) Nonpublic schools shall provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal disease and the effectiveness of vaccination against meningococcal disease at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms and the means by which meningococcal disease is spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a nonpublic school to provide or purchase vaccine against meningococcal disease.

(3) The governing body of a public charter school shall ensure that the public charter school provides parents and guardians with information about meningococcal disease at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms and the means by which meningococcal disease is spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a public charter school or its governing body to provide or purchase vaccine against meningococcal disease.

(4) The State Department of Education shall provide annually to home schools, with which they have contact, information about meningococcal disease and the effectiveness of vaccination against meningococcal disease at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms and the means by which meningococcal disease is spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children. This information may be provided electronically or on the department's Web site. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Department of Education to provide or purchase vaccine against meningococcal disease.

(5) The State Board of Health shall develop and make available to the Department of Education educational materials appropriate for distribution so that the information required by this section can be provided to parents and guardians. The Department of Education may provide this information, at its discretion, electronically, on its Web site. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Department of Education to provide or purchase vaccine against meningococcal disease.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.