Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
02/27/2006 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB251 | |
| SB244 | |
| SJR19 | |
| SB242 | |
| HB357 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 251 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 244 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 242 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 357 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 251-POSTSEC. STUDENT MENINGITIS IMMUNIZATION
CHAIR FRED DYSON announced SB 251 to be up for consideration.
1:34:43 PM
SENATOR CON BUNDE, sponsor of SB 251, explained that the bill
that passed last year relating to postsecondary schools and
meningitis was too broad because it included postsecondary
schools without dormitories. The new requirement is burdensome
to schools and an invasion of student privacy for little
purpose. SB 251 would exempt postsecondary educational
institutions without dormitory facilities from the requirement
of information distribution about meningitis. The sponsor of the
previous bill agreed that this adjustment is appropriate.
1:37:24 PM
SENATOR KIM ELTON questioned why the phrase "intends to reside"
is used rather than "will reside."
SENATOR BUNDE answered that it was the drafter's language.
SENATOR ELTON said he would follow up with the drafter.
SENATOR OLSON asked how many institutions this would apply to.
JANE ALBERTS, Staff to Senator Con Bunde, said that data was
difficult to find.
CHAIR DYSON opened public testimony.
1:39:38 PM
SCOTT THORSON, CEO, Network Business Systems, testified in
support of SB 251. He said the current situation doesn't work
for distance learning for a number of reasons for the following
reasons. Students have to sign documents that appear to invade
their privacy. Second, it increases the cost of education.
Third the regulations require the state to keep records, but it
is not clear how this benefits the state. Fourth, the current
requirements don't do anything to reduce the potential of
meningitis. Fifth, the original wording pertained to
postsecondary institutions with dormitories, but there are 136
postsecondary institutions without dormitories that will be
affected.
1:44:46 PM
JAY BUTLER, Acting Chief, Epidemiology Section, Division of
Public Health, Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS),
supported SB 251. He said that various epidemiological studies
suggest that the overall risk of meningococcal meningitis is
relatively low, but risk is ten to twenty-five times higher
among dorm residents. He added that the provisions in SB 251
also bring the law into line with recommendations from the
Center for Disease Control's advisory committee on immunization
practices and the recommendations of the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
SENATOR OLSON asked about the frequency of allergic reactions to
immunizations.
MR. BUTLER replied that they are quite uncommon.
SENATOR OLSON asked whether there have been any other negative
reactions or side affects associated with the vaccinations.
MR. BUTLER replied that a small number of the recipients of the
conjugate vaccine developed Guillian-Barre syndrome. He added
that this occurred after upward of one million doses of the
vaccine had been administered and follow-up on the incidents
does not suggest a relationship between the vaccine and those
events.
SENATOR OLSON asked if any of the affected people died as a
result of the syndrome.
MR. BUTLER replied that all of them survived.
SENATOR OLSON asked how much the conjugate vaccine and the
regular vaccine cost.
MR. BUTLER replied that for the public sector, the cost of the
conjugate vaccine is about $60 and the cost of the regular
vaccine is somewhat less.
1:49:23 PM
SENATOR WILKEN moved to report SB 251 and attached fiscal notes
from committee with individual recommendations. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
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