Colorado vaccine bill moves forward – with amendment allowing repeal attempt

A bill to make it harder for Colorado parents to exempt their kids from vaccines is one step closer to passage — but only after six hours of debate and a Democratic compromise.

The Colorado House passed the bill on second reading after Democrats agreed to introduce an amendment to add what’s called a “petition clause.” This gives Colorado voters 90 days after Gov. Jared Polis signs the bill to collect enough valid signatures to put a repeal measure on the fall 2022 ballot.

The vaccine bill will get a final vote in the House on Wednesday and then must return to the Senate for a vote on the amendment.

Senate Bill 163 would require parents seeking nonmedical exemptions for their kids to submit a certificate of completion of an online educational module on vaccines or a form signed by a medical professional. The bill also creates a “vaccine-protected children” goal for every school to have 95% of its student population to be vaccinated. Each school will be required to publish its immunization and exemption rates annually and distribute them to parents and students.

“I think this bill brings Colorado in line with most other states,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon.

Roberts said the bill aims to increase the state’s low vaccination rates while preserving parents’ rights to exempt their children from vaccines.

Although the majority of Coloradans support increasing vaccination rates and restricting exemptions, hundreds of opponents have filled the Capitol to object to the bill, citing concerns with privacy and and parental rights.

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/06/09/colorado-vaccine-bill-repeal-amendment/