The Iowa House Education Committee advanced a bill that requires parents be made aware of exemptions as it relates to vaccinations in order to attend daycare or school. The bill advanced with just two Democrats voting in opposition.
Senate File 2196 requires information regarding exemptions and the requirements for an exemption be included in any public communication following the recommendation of an immunization by the Department of Health and Human Services, any communication regarding immunizations to a parent or legal guardian from a school and published on the websites of and included in registration documentation for all elementary schools, secondary schools and licensed childcare centers.
Democrat State Representatives Monica Kurth and Art Staed voted against the bill. Kurth said vaccination rates have continued to fall and said measles outbreaks across the country have resulted. While medical exemptions require the signature of medical personnel, she said religious exemptions have no requirement.
Staed said he believes strongly in the public health benefits of “safe vaccines” and he believes the emphasis on exemptions may discourage parents from getting their children vaccinated.
Republican State Rep. Steve Holt noted all the bill does is mandate parents are told what the law is.
“That’s all this is doing,” he said. “It’s just telling them what the law is so that they’re not left with the impression that they don’t have any choices. This is about parental rights, once again, that one party cares about and the other one doesn’t.”
Democrat State Rep. Sharon Steckman said she cares about parental rights and the Democrats “definitely” care about children and families.
“To divide us by saying we don’t care about what families think about their choice is ridiculous,” Steckman said. “I definitely care about women’s healthcare choices.”
Steckman asked if there may be an amendment to the bill on the floor. Republican State Rep. Skyler Wheeler, who is managing the bill, said he is “completely open” to it.
Steckman said she would not want to see an amendment on the bill or see the bill go any further.
The bill passed the full committee, 19-2.
