HB2984eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2984 Engrossed LRB100 05368 MJP 15379 b

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 2310-650 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-650)

Sec. 2310-650. Influenza vaccination program. The Department of Public Health may require certified local health departments with jurisdiction over areas with more than 500,000 residents and any facility licensed by the Department to implement an influenza vaccination program that ensures that the health care personnel employees of the facility are offered the opportunity to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza and any other novel or pandemic influenza viruses as vaccines become available.

Nothing in this Section prohibits certified local health departments and any facility licensed by the Department from implementing more stringent influenza vaccination policies, strategies, or programs, including a mandatory health care personnel influenza vaccination program that contains measures to protect patients from potential exposure to influenza and improve health care personnel vaccination rates that are consistent with existing law and rules.

The Department may adopt rules setting forth the requirements of the influenza vaccination program, along with exceptions for personnel who may be exempt for medical or religious reasons. Medical exemptions shall be consistent with current guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. General philosophical or moral reluctance to influenza vaccinations is not a sufficient basis for an exemption.

(Source: P.A. 96-823, eff. 11-25-09.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2018.