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CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A bill to create a religious exemption for school children’s vaccination requirements has passed the West Virginia Senate.
Senate Bill 460 now moves on to the West Virginia House of Delegates for review after passing the Senate in a 20-12 vote. Two senators were absent from the vote.
The bill allows for religious or moral exemptions to the vaccine requirements put in place by West Virginia schools. It was introduced on Feb. 13 by Senate President Randy Smith (R-Preston, 14) and Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell, 05) upon request from Governor Patrick Morrisey.
Earlier this week, Woelfel submitted an amendment to the bill that would have allowed private schools to require vaccinations for religious reasons. However, senators voted against the amendment.
Woelfel then submitted an amendment that would still require a polio vaccine for school children despite the other exemptions. While this amendment received more support, it also ultimately failed.
Senators Ryan Weld (R-Brooke, 01) and Joey Garcia (D-Marion, 13) also submitted amendments to the bill that were also ultimately rejected. To read the full bill, as well as all of the rejected amendments from Weld, Garcia and Woelfel, click here.
