ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2821

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 5, 1997

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2821. 

      This bill requires the immunization of a child for hepatitis B as a condition of attendance at a public or private school, licensed child care center, nursery school, preschool or kindergarten in this State under regulations set forth at N.J.A.C.8:57-4.1 et seq. which stipulate the requirements for childhood immunizations as established by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services. The provisions of these regulations governing the applicability of immunization requirements, proof of immunization, medical and religious exemptions, provisional admission to a school, preschool or child care center, documents accepted as evidence of immunization, records required and available for inspection and reports to be furnished to the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the provision of necessary equipment, materials and services for immunizing children at public expense by a board of education or a local board of health, shall apply to immunizations for hepatitis B.

      Beginning with the 1997-98 school year, the bill prohibits a principal, director or other person in charge of a public or private school, licensed child care center, nursery school, preschool or kindergarten in this State from knowingly admitting or retaining a child whose parent or guardian has not submitted acceptable evidence of the child's immunization for hepatitis B as provided by regulation of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.

      The bill further provides that a child born on or after the effective date of the bill, unless medically contraindicated, shall receive three doses of a live hepatitis B vaccine, or a vaccine combination containing live hepatitis B vaccine, administered as follows:

      (1) the first dose recommended at birth but no later than two months of age;

      (2) the second dose at two months of age if the first dose has been administered between birth and one month of age, but no earlier than one month after the first dose; and

      (3) the third dose no earlier than two months after the second dose and four months after the first dose, but no earlier than six months of age.