(a)  Every person upon entering any public or private school including any college or university in this state as a pupil shall furnish to the administrative head of the school evidence that the person has been immunized against any diseases that may from time to time be prescribed by regulation of the director of health and tested for tuberculosis, or a certificate from a licensed physician stating that the person is not a fit subject for immunization for medical reasons, or a certificate signed by the pupil, if over eighteen (18) years of age, or by the parent or guardian stating that immunization and/or testing for communicable diseases is contrary to that person’s religious beliefs. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative head of the school to secure compliance with these regulations.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 16-38-2

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Every child more than twenty-four (24) months of age, resident in the state of Rhode Island, shall be eligible to receive the immunization against meningococcal disease. The Department of Health shall include meningococcal vaccine in the department’s immunization program, established by § 23-1-44.

History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 65, § 14; G.L. 1909, ch. 73, § 10; P.L. 1915, ch. 1201, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 77, § 9; P.L. 1925, ch. 644, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 198, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 16-38-2; P.L. 1961, ch. 133, § 4; P.L. 1968, ch. 188, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 138, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 175, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 253, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 406, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 34, § 1.