AN ACT relating to immunizations.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1549
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 1/16/2026 12:29 PM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to immunizations. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 214.034 is amended to read as follows: 3
Except as otherwise provided in KRS 214.036: 4
(1) All parents, guardians, and other persons having care, custody, or control of any 5
child shall have the child immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyeliti s, 6
pertussis, measles, rubella, mumps, [hepatitis B, ] and haemophilis influenzae 7
disease in accordance with testing and immunization schedules established by 8
regulations of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Additional 9
immunizations shall not [may] be required by the Cabinet for Health and Family 10
Services through the promulgation of an administrative regulation pursuant to KRS 11
Chapter 13A without the approval of the General Assembly [if recommended by 12
the United States Public Health Service or the Am erican Academy of Pediatrics] . 13
All parents, guardians, and other persons having care, custody, or control of any 14
child shall also have any child found to be infected with tuberculosis examined and 15
treated according to administrative regulations of the Cabinet for Health and Family 16
Services promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A. The persons shall also have booster 17
immunizations administered to the child in accordance with the regulations of the 18
Cabinet for Health and Family Services. 19
(2) A local health departmen t may, with the approval of the Department of Public 20
Health, require all first-time enrollees in a public or private school within the health 21
department's jurisdiction to be tested for tuberculosis prior to entering school. 22
Following the first year of scho ol, upon an epidemiological determination made by 23
the state or local health officer in accordance with administrative regulations 24
promulgated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, all parents, guardians, 25
and other persons having care, custody, or control of any child shall have the child 26
tested for tuberculosis, and shall have any child found to be infected with 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1549
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 1/16/2026 12:29 PM Jacketed
tuberculosis examined and treated according to administrative regulations of the 1
Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Nothing in this s ection shall be construed 2
to require the testing for tuberculosis of any child whose parent or guardian is 3
opposed to such testing, and who objects by a written sworn statement to the testing 4
for tuberculosis of the child on religious grounds. However, in a suspected case of 5
tuberculosis, a local health department may require testing of this child. 6
(3) All public or private primary or secondary schools, and preschool programs shall 7
require a current immunization certificate for any child enrolled as a regular 8
attendee, as provided by administrative regulation of the Cabinet for Health and 9
Family Services, promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A, to be on file within two (2) 10
weeks of the child's attendance. 11
(4) [All public or private primary schools shall require a current immunization 12
certificate for hepatitis B for any child enrolled as a regular attendee in t he sixth 13
grade, as provided by administrative regulation of the Cabinet for Health and 14
Family Services, promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A, to be on file within two (2) 15
weeks of the child's attendance. 16
(5) ]For each child cared for in a day -care center, cer tified family child -care home, or 17
any other licensed facility which cares for children, a current immunization 18
certificate, as provided by administrative regulation of the Cabinet for Health and 19
Family Services, promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A, shall be on file in the 20
center, home, or facility within thirty (30) days of entrance into the program or 21
admission to the facility. 22
(5)[(6)] Any forms relating to exemption from immunization requirements shall be 23
available at public or private primary or secondary schools, preschool programs, 24
day-care centers, certified family child -care homes, or other licensed facilities 25
which care for children. 26