Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE INFANT IMMUNIZATION TRACKING SYSTEM.

Summary of Legislation

            The bill includes the following provisions:

            •   clarifies that state and local health departments may gather immunization information from physicians, clinics, schools, parents, children, students, managed care organizations, third-party payors, and state contractors;

            •   modifes the existing program by authorizing the release of immunization records to a child or student, a managed care organization in which a child, student, or infant is enrolled, or a person or entity that has contracted with the state;

            •   requires certificates of immunization to include dates and types of immunizations administered to a student in: (1) paper document form; or (2) an electronic file from the immunization tracking system; and

            •   is effective at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the ninety-day period after adjournment sine die of the General Assembly, or on the date of the official declaration of the vote of the people as proclaimed by the Governor, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to Article V, Section 1 (3) of the State Constitution.

            Background. The “Infant Immunization Act” was implemented pursuant to HB 92-1208. Currently, the Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE), Disease Control and Epidemiology Division, operates an immunization program supported with federal funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program. For FY 1997-98, the total grant for Colorado is estimated at $745,740. [NOTE: This grant is separate from the $1.9 million provided in the FY 1997-98 Long Bill for actual vaccines.] One requirement of the current program is a comprehensive immunization tracking system. DPHE indicates that it is in the process of populating the data base with the goal of including immunization data on all children in Colorado up to age 13.

            This bill includes language which both modifies and clarifies DPHE’s authority to operate an immunization tracking system. It does not place requirements on the state department nor local health departments that necessitate new moneys. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

Departments Contacted

            Public Health and Environment