Repeal the amendments to Administrative Rule 325.176 (12) that took effect January 1, 2015, and requires state-sponsored speech via an educational session, interferes with the doctor/patient relationship and the parent/child relationship, is arbitrarily enforced, and creates an undue burden on parents wishing to exercise a statutorily-given right.  

History:

On January 1, 2015, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services promulgated Administrative Rule 325.176 (12) requiring that parents undergo “vaccine education” at their local health department prior to receiving a vaccine exemption for religious or philosophical reasons. This rule also requires that the form be certified by the local health department and that the form cannot be altered in any way. 

Issue:

For 37 years, law-abiding parents have followed the statutory procedure outlined in the Public Health Code (MCL 333.9215), which requires that parents provide a written religious or other objection to vaccination to school officials. This new rule not only requires a procedure that conflicts with the statute but it also improperly inserts the government into the parent-child and doctor-patient relationships by intruding upon private, medical decision making for the child. Further, the rule requires that a parent must sign the unaltered state-mandated exemption form to secure an exemption--even if the parent does not agree with statements on the form. 

Thousands of parents across the state object to this improper administrative rule because the rule promotes governmental intrusion, oversteps the authority of the health department, violates the clear legislative intent of the statute, is arbitrarily enforced by health departments across the state, and creates an unfair and undue burden on parents that have elected to claim a statutory right. 

I place my name on this petition in support of rescinding the amended rule.