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August 16, 2001
Pro-Family...
Vaccination Legislation Becomes Law in Illinois!
SB 1305 Victory! (Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and Adoption Act)
Removes "not immunizing" as reason for investigation by Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
October 1st becomes law!
"A child shall not be considered neglected or abused for the sole reason that the child's parent or other person responsible for the child's welfare failed to vaccinate, delayed vaccination, or refused vaccination for the child whether due to a waiver on religious or medical grounds as permitted by the law."
House amendment: limits the waiver to those permitted by law.
Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition's state-wide members appreciate Gov. George Ryan's signature on SB 1305, a vaccine-related bill after passage in the Illinois Senate and House without opposition. It is bipartisanship at its best.
SB 1305 removes Department of Children and Family Services' regulation of medical neglect for parents who choose to delay vaccination, fail or refuse to vaccinate their children based on medical or religious exemptions. IVAC thanks DCFS' Jim Kaufman who testified in favor of SB 1305.
As determined in the House floor debate, SB 1305's legislative intent, also, includes families who delay or refuse vaccination for their children's developmental problems, e.g., Down Syndrome or minor illnesses.
With SB 1305, doctors are free to advocate different vaccination schedules than recommended by medical societies for developmental issues or minor illnesses without writing a medical exemption.
According to Barbara Alexander Mullarkey, IVAC spokeswoman, "SB 1305 relieves parents' anxiety of DCFS' threat of medical neglect for failure to vaccinate."
IVAC appreciates the following legislators who shepherded SB 1305 through the legislature:
SB 1305 Senate sponsor: Sen. Patrick O'Malley R Palos Park
SB 1305 House co-sponsors: Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D) Chicago
Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw R Naperville
Rep. Monique Davis (D) Chicago
- Feb. 22: Sen. O'Malley introduces; Rules Committee
- Feb. 28: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
- March 30: Passes Judiciary Committee 11-0; DCFS testifies for bill
- April 4: Passes Senate 53-0-2 present
- April 4: Arrives in House
- April 5: House sponsor: Rep. Feigenholtz; Rules Committee
- April 6: Assigned to Human Services
- April 19: Rep. Monique Davis added as a joint sponsor
- May 3: Passes 9-0 Human Services Committee with amendment to delete
 whether, or whatever; DCFS
testifies for bill
- May 10: Rep. Monigue Davis added as a joint sponsor
- May 17: Passes 115-0 in House, with bill intent clarification
- May 22: Sen. O'Malley and Senate concur on amendment
- May 22: Passes both Houses
- Aug. 15: Governor Ryan signs bill into law.
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