AN ACT TO ensure that educational materials are provided so that schools provide information to parents and guardians concerning meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  This act shall be known as "Garrett's Law".
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(44)	To Ensure that Schools Provide Information Concerning Meningococcal Meningitis and Influenza and Their Vaccines. – Local boards of education shall ensure that schools provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 115C‑238.29F(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Health and Safety Standards. – A charter school shall meet the same health and safety requirements required of a local school administrative unit. The Department of Public Instruction shall ensure that charter schools provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 115C‑548 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑548.  Attendance; health and safety regulations.
Each private church school or school of religious charter shall make, and maintain annual attendance and disease immunization records for each pupil enrolled and regularly attending classes. Attendance by a child at any school to which this Part relates and which complies with this Part shall satisfy the requirements of compulsory school attendance so long as the school operates on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year. Each school shall be subject to reasonable fire, health and safety inspections by State, county and municipal authorities as required by law.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall ensure that materials are provided to these schools so that they can provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 115C‑556 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑556.  Attendance; health and safety regulations.
Each qualified nonpublic school shall make, and maintain annual attendance and disease immunization records for each pupil enrolled and regularly attending classes. Attendance by a child at any school to which this Part relates and which complies with this Part shall satisfy the requirements of compulsory school attendance so long as the school operates on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year. Each school shall be subject to reasonable fire, health and safety inspections by State, county and municipal authorities as required by law. 
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall ensure that materials are provided to each qualified nonpublic school so that the school can provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 115C‑565 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑565.  Requirements exclusive.
No school which complies with this Part shall be subject to any other provision of law relating to education except requirements of law respecting immunization. The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall provide to home schools information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. The information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children."
SECTION 7.  The Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services, shall make available sample educational materials that can be provided to parents and guardians. The Division shall provide these materials to (i) local school administrative units for public schools other than charter schools, (ii) the Department of Public Instruction for charter schools, and (iii) the Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, for nonpublic schools including home schools. These materials may be provided electronically.
SECTION 8.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004, beginning with the 2004‑2005 school year.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of July, 2004.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

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		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2004