HB 1827-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Provides that, except for community and technical colleges, each degree-granting public or private postsecondary educational institution that provides on-campus or group housing shall provide information on meningococcal disease to, at a minimum, those students or prospective students who are offered on-campus or group housing. The information about meningococcal disease shall include: (1) Symptoms, risks, especially as the risks relate to circumstances of group living arrangements, and treatment; and

(2) Current recommendations from the United States centers for disease control and prevention regarding the receipt of vaccines for meningococcal disease and where the vaccination can be received.

Declares that this act shall not be construed to require the department of health or the postsecondary educational institution to provide the vaccination to students.

Requires that the department of health shall be consulted regarding the preparation of the information materials provided to the first-time students.

VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1827-S

May 20, 2003

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning herewith, without my approval as to subsection 4, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1827 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to provision of meningococcal immunization information to first-time students by degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions;"

This bill requires all public and private higher education institutions with student housing on campus to provide information to each new student about meningococcal disease. This requirement is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control recommendations to colleges and public health departments that they provide general information to students about the disease.

However, subsection 4 is unduly prescriptive in directing institutions that offer electronic enrollment to provide the meningococcal disease information to students as part of their electronic enrollment and requiring that students acknowledge receipt of the information in order to complete enrollment.

Many higher education institutions in Washington and across the nation have been providing this information to their students for years, without a mandate that students acknowledge receipt. Our higher education institutions also provide information on other critical public health issues, such as AIDS/HIV and alcohol abuse without a requirement that students acknowledge receipt. Creating a mandatory sign-off from students creates an unnecessary administrative burden on our higher education institutions.

For these reasons, I have vetoed subsection 4 of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1827.

With the exception of subsection 4, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1827 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Locke

Governor