§231.4. Immunization compliance; exceptions

            A. The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services and the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health shall require each recipient of public assistance of the programs described herein or his parent or guardian to present to the appropriate local agency issuing the public assistance sufficient evidence of immunity or immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases according to a schedule promulgated by rule by the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health. Sufficient evidence that such an immunization program is in progress may be substituted for proof of immunity or immunization.

            B. Except as provided herein, failure to comply with the provisions of Subsection A of this Section within a reasonable period of time, as defined by rule, after written notification of the requirements of this Section shall result in the suspension of public assistance until compliance is demonstrated.

            C. No person shall be required to comply with the provisions of this Section if that person or his parent or guardian submits a written statement from a physician stating that the immunization procedure is contraindicated for medical reasons or if the person or his parent or guardian objects to the procedure on religious grounds.

            D. The Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section for programs under the particular department's jurisdiction. The office of public health shall develop and promulgate by rule the immunization schedule required herein.

            E. The Louisiana Department of Health shall apply for any federal waiver necessary to ensure full federal participation in the implementation of this Section and shall submit a written report to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare at the time the waiver is either approved or denied. Failure to receive waiver approval for any one or more of the public assistance programs shall not preclude the implementation of this Section for the remaining programs, upon waiver approval, if needed.

            F.(1) The following public assistance programs shall be subject to the provisions of this Section:

            (a) Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP).

            (b) Public assistance with the cost of medical care under the medical assistance program (Medicaid).

            (2) For purposes of this Section, "recipient" means a recipient of public assistance who is under eighteen years of age and all of a recipient's dependents who are under eighteen years of age.

            Acts 1997, No. 1155, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2018, No. 206, §5.