97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1961

 

Introduced , by Rep. Daniel J. Burke

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the School Influenza Vaccination Act. Sets forth legislative findings. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall apply for federal grants and appropriations under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to fund, build infrastructure, promote, and expand school-located vaccination programs to provide seasonal influenza influenza vaccinations for school-age children. Sets forth sources from which the Department shall seek seek grant and appropriations. Provides that the Department shall make information regarding federal grants and appropriations opportunities under PPACA available to certain agencies. Effective on July 1, 2011.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning vaccinations.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the School
5Influenza Vaccination Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds as follows:
7        (1) Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness
8    caused by influenza viruses. The best way to help prevent
9    seasonal influenza is by getting a vaccination each year.
10        (2) Every year in the United States, on average, more
11    than 200,000 people are hospitalized from
12    influenza-related complications and about 36,000 people,
13    mostly the elderly, die from influenza-related causes.
14        (3) The United States Centers for Disease Control and
15    Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
16    recommends seasonal influenza vaccinations for all
17    eligible persons in the United States, including eligible
18    children age 6 months through 18 years of age.
19        (4) Young adults and children 5 years to 19 years of
20    age are 3 to 4 times more likely to be infected with
21    influenza than adults.
22        (5) School-age children are the population group most
23    responsible for transmission of contagious respiratory

 

 

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1    viruses, including influenza.
2        (6) The elderly are the next most vulnerable population
3    susceptible to severe illness from influenza due to weaker
4    immune response to vaccination.
5        (7) School-located influenza vaccination programs may
6    be an effective way to vaccinate children while reducing
7    transmission and infection rates to the larger community
8    and at the same time reducing rates of school absenteeism
9    due to children being infected with influenza.
10        (8) Schools can be an effective infrastructure tool to
11    improve pandemic planning by identifying known and
12    effective pandemic vaccination centers.
13        (9) Although experience has demonstrated the
14    feasibility and success of school-located influenza
15    vaccination programs in vaccinating children, funding and
16    logistical issues, particularly involving the delivery of
17    vaccine to children with private insurance coverage, are
18    issues with program sustainability.
19        (10) Given the significant fiscal challenges ahead for
20    this State, it is important for the General Assembly to
21    ensure that State agencies maximize their opportunity to
22    obtain additional federal funds.
23        (11) It is the intent of the General Assembly in
24    enacting this Act to take full advantage of the funding and
25    grant opportunities through the Patient Protection and
26    Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to improve State health care

 

 

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1    programs and invest in health prevention.
 
2    Section 10. Funding for school-located influenza
3vaccination programs.
4    (a) The Department of Public Health shall apply for federal
5grants and appropriations under the federal Patient Protection
6and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, to fund, build
7infrastructure, promote, and expand school-located vaccination
8programs to provide seasonal influenza influenza vaccinations
9for school-age children. The Department shall seek grants and
10appropriations from the following sources:
11        (1) Section 4201 of PPACA, Community Transformation
12    Grants for the promotion of health living and reduction of
13    racial and ethnic disparities.
14        (2) Section 4002 of PPACA, the Prevention and Public
15    Health Investment Fund for prevention and public health
16    initiatives.
17        (3) Section 4004 of PPACA, which provides funding for
18    public education and outreach programs to encourage
19    preventive care services.
20        (4) Section 1201 of PPACA, which directs the United
21    States Department of Health and Human Services to fund
22    demonstration projects to test wellness initiatives in the
23    individual insurance market.
24        (5) Any other federal or private funding and grant
25    opportunities for prevention and vaccination.

 

 

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1    (b) The Department of Public Health shall make information
2regarding federal grant and appropriations opportunities under
3PPACA available to local government agencies, local public
4health departments, school districts, and State and local
5nonprofit organizations via the Department's website.
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July
71, 2011.