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SB 1137 was introduced and referred to the Senate Education Committee on 1/23/2024. The bill is sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Senator Juan Mendez.
SB 1137 requires that the immunization rate of students enrolled in public or charter schools to be publicly posted on the school's website.
SB 1137 amends Title 15, Chapter 1, Article 1, regarding education- general provisions, to add add subsection 15-120.05 to include that public and charter schools must post the immunization rate of students who are enrolled at the school on the school's website.
NVIC OPPOSES SB 1137 because every person's medical information should remain private between an individual and their health care provider. Even posting the vaccination rate in an aggregate number not identifying a student individually puts them at risk to be discriminated against, shamed and bullied by children, other parents, or even staff. Vaccine exemption numbers are so low, the posting of this information could still be used to uniquely identify a child by process of elimination as parents choosing to delay or decline vaccination may stand out by their other healthy choices for their child. This could make the children themselves and parents of unvaccinated children susceptible to being targeted by vaccine advocacy groups or others in the community for harassment. It could also lead to false abuse claims to CPS. This bill is also operating under the incorrect assumption that being fully vaccinated produces healthier children, where for some children, more vaccines leads to worse health outcomes.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/80588?SessionId=128 - text, status, and history of SB 1137
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