SB 736 - This act creates a tax credit and modifies provisions in the law relating to communicable diseases and hepatitis A vaccinations. A food establishment will be allowed to take tax credits for the amount expended on vaccinations for its employees against the hepatitis A virus. An administration fee equal to 5 percent of the total cost may be claimed along with the normal cost of vaccinations. The food establishment must provide proof of all employee vaccinations to the Department of Health and must include proof when filing its tax return with the Department of Revenue. If any tax credit amounts exceed the establishment's annual tax liability, no refund will be allowed and the credit may not be carried over to the following taxable year.

Section 192.020 is modified to provide that if the Department of Health determines that a certain area of the state is high-risk due to the prevalence of a specific disease, then the Department must distribute vaccination dosages, if a vaccination exists, to local public health departments in that area. The Department shall reimburse the local departments for the cost of administering the vaccinations. Any individual receiving a vaccination should receive a vaccination card as designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Section 196.225 is modified to require the Department of Health to issue a decal and certificate to food establishments that indicates all employees have been vaccinated against hepatitis A. These should be issued when the Department determines that all establishment employees have been vaccinated and that the establishment has an employee vaccination policy.

Portions of this act are similar to HBs 1489, 1488 and 1650 (2000).
ERIN MOTLEY