by Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
Senate Health and Welfare Committee introduced a bill that would prohibit investigations into a child’s immunization status and prohibit terminating parental rights based on that status.
Committee member Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d’Alene, introduced the bill at Sen. Brian Lenney’s request. Lenney, R-Nampa, had to be in Education Committee at the time, but he is listed as the bill sponsor.
The bill would prohibit a court from terminating a parent’s relationship with their child based solely on the immunization status.
Current Idaho law lists only rare reasons for termination of parental rights, such as abandonment, abuse, neglect, torture and other criminal acts. Idaho does not require parents to vaccinate their children, and allows broad vaccination exemptions for public school enrollment.
The introduction was brief and the meeting lasted less than 15 minutes before adjourning.
Lenney’s bill must still get a public hearing before moving forward.
Ruth Brown | Producer
Ruth Brown grew up in South Dakota and her first job out of college was covering the South Dakota Legislature. She’s since moved on to Idaho lawmakers. Brown spent 10 years working in print journalism, including newspapers such as the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press, where she’s covered everything from the correctional system to health care issues. She joined Idaho Reports in 2021 and looks forward to telling stories about how state policy can impact the lives of regular Idahoans.