WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5249

By Delegates Crouse, Petitto, Adkins, Dean, and Smith

[Introduced January 26, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-3-4d, relating to prohibiting vaccine and immunization requirements for certain schools in this state.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

§16-3-4d. Prohibition on mandatory immunizations or vaccinations for private, parochial, charter, virtual charter, and remote public schools.

(a) The provisions of §16-3-4 of this code are not applicable to students enrolled in private, parochial, charter, virtual charter, and remote public schools in this state.

(b) Students enrolled in private, parochial, charter, virtual charter, and remote public schools in this state shall agree to obey all rules of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission governing awards, all-star games, parental consents, physical examinations, and vaccinations applicable to all high school athletes, as otherwise set forth in §18-2-25 of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit vaccine mandates for certain schools in this state. The bill acknowledges that student athletes must still adhere to certain guidelines.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.