An Act to amend 49.155 (1m) (br) and 252.04 (3) of the statutes; Relating to: eliminating personal conviction exemption from immunizations.
Summary
AB891 would narrow Wisconsin’s school and child care immunization waiver rules by removing “personal conviction” as a basis for exemption. Under current law, students in elementary, middle, junior, and senior high school, as well as children in child care centers and nursery schools, must show proof of required immunizations or submit a waiver based on health, religion, or personal conviction. This bill would keep only health and religious objections as valid waiver grounds.
The bill amends two statutes: one governing immunization requirements tied to public assistance eligibility and one governing school, child care center, and nursery school immunization rules. It would change the written waiver language in s. 252.04(3) and conform s. 49.155(1m)(br) so that, for that program, immunization waivers may only be granted for health or religious reasons. The bill does not change the underlying vaccine requirements themselves, only the available exemption categories.
Impact
If enacted, AB891 would reduce the number of legally available nonmedical exemptions from Wisconsin immunization requirements for children in schools and child care settings. Schools, child care centers, and nursery schools would no longer be able to accept a waiver based solely on personal conviction, and families would need to rely on a health or religious exemption instead. The bill would also align the referenced public-assistance-related statute with the narrower exemption standard.
Sentiment
The bill’s framing suggests support from sponsors who favor stricter immunization compliance and fewer exemption pathways. However, the available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate in the provided materials. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating it did not secure final legislative approval.
Contention
The main point of contention is the elimination of the personal conviction exemption. Supporters are likely to view this as a public health measure intended to increase vaccination rates and reduce preventable disease risk in schools and child care settings. Opponents would likely argue that removing personal conviction waivers limits parental choice and individual conscience-based objections. The bill preserves health and religious exemptions, so the dispute centers specifically on whether nonmedical, nonreligious objections should remain legally recognized.
Health: immunizations; promulgation of certain rules that are more stringent than the requirements for claiming exemption from immunizations; prohibit. Amends sec. 9215 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.9215).