2000 Minnesota Statutes

     135A.14 Statement of immunization of post-secondary 
  students. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  As used in this section, 
 the following terms have the meanings given them.  

    (a) "Administrator" means the administrator of the 
 institution or other person with general control and supervision 
 of the institution. 

    (b) "Public or private post-secondary educational 
 institution" or "institution" means any of the following 
 institutions having an enrollment of more than 100 persons 
 during any quarter, term, or semester during the preceding 
 year:  (1) the University of Minnesota; (2) the state 
 universities; (3) the state community colleges; (4) public 
 technical colleges; (5) private four-year, professional and 
 graduate institutions; (6) private two-year colleges; and (7) 
 schools subject to either chapter 141, sections 136A.61 to 
 136A.71, or schools exempt under section 136A.657, and which 
 offer educational programs within the state for an academic year 
 greater than six consecutive months.  An institution's report to 
 the Minnesota higher education services office or the Minnesota 
 department of children, families, and learning may be considered 
 when determining enrollment. 

    (c) "Student" means a person born after 1956 who did not 
 graduate from a Minnesota high school in 1997 or later, and who 
 is (1) registering for more than one class during a full 
 academic term, such as a quarter or a semester or (2) housed on 
 campus and is registering for one or more classes.  Student does 
 not include persons enrolled in extension classes only or 
 correspondence classes only. 

    Subd. 2.    Statement of immunization required.  Except 
 as provided in subdivision 3, no student may remain enrolled in 
 a public or private post-secondary educational institution 
 unless the student has submitted to the administrator a 
 statement that the student has received appropriate immunization 
 against measles, rubella, and mumps after having attained the 
 age of 12 months, and against diphtheria and tetanus within ten 
 years of first registration at the institution.  This statement 
 must indicate the month and year of each immunization given.  
 Instead of submitting a statement, a student may provide an 
 immunization record maintained by a school according to section 
 121A.15, subdivision 7, or a school in another state if the 
 required information is contained in the record.  A student who 
 has submitted a statement as provided in this subdivision may 
 transfer to a different Minnesota institution without submitting 
 another statement if the student's transcript or other official 
 documentation indicates that the statement was submitted. 

    Subd. 3.    Exemptions from immunization.  (a) An 
 immunization listed in subdivision 2 is not required if the 
 student submits to the administrator a statement signed by a 
 physician that shows:  

    (1) that, for medical reasons, the student did not receive 
 an immunization; 

    (2) that the student has experienced the natural disease 
 against which the immunization protects; or 

    (3) that a laboratory has confirmed the presence of 
 adequate immunity. 

    (b) If the student submits a notarized statement that the 
 student has not been immunized as required in subdivision 2 
 because of the student's conscientiously held beliefs, the 
 immunizations described in subdivision 2 are not required.  The 
 institution shall forward this statement to the commissioner of 
 health.  

    Subd. 4.    Immunization files required.  The 
 institution must maintain an immunization record for each 
 student governed by this section for at least one year from the 
 time of original filing.  The immunization records may be 
 inspected by the department of health and the local board of 
 health in whose jurisdiction the institution is located.  

    Subd. 5.    Deadline for submitting statement.  The 
 institution shall require that the statement from the student, 
 as required within subdivision 2 or 3, be submitted within 45 
 days of commencement of the academic term for which the student 
 has registered. 

    Subd. 6.    Hepatitis information.  All public and 
 private post-secondary education institutions shall provide 
 information regarding the transmission, treatment, and 
 prevention of hepatitis A, B, and C, to all persons who are 
 first-time enrollees.  The department of health shall be 
 consulted regarding the preparation of these materials. 

    HIST: 1989 c 215 s 8; 1989 c 246 s 2; 1995 c 212 art 3 s 59; 
 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1996 c 398 s 28; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 
 1999 c 214 art 2 s 2