2024 -- H 7881

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LC005567

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BLOOD DONATIONS AND VACCINATIONS

ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Cardillo, and Costantino

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2024

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 4.15

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BLOOD DONATIONS AND VACCINATIONS ACT

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     23-4.15-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Blood Donations and Vaccinations

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Act."

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     23-4.15-2. Disclosure of mRNA vaccinations for blood donations; Labeling; Right to

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request certain blood.

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     (a) Any person or entity that is licensed, as required in ยง 23-4.5-2, to collect human blood

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donations for the purpose of providing blood for human transfusion shall require blood donors to

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disclose whether the blood donor has received a COVID-19 vaccine or a messenger ribonucleic

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acid vaccine during the donor's lifetime.

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     (b) Blood originating from a donor who has received a COVID-19 vaccine or a messenger

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ribonucleic acid vaccine shall be conspicuously marked and/or labeled.

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     (c) In a nonemergency situation, as determined by the person providing medical services,

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a person receiving a blood transfusion shall have the right to request blood based on whether or not

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the blood originated from a person who has received a COVID-19 vaccine or a messenger

 

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ribonucleic acid vaccine and to refuse any such transfusion if the blood originates from any person

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who has, or has not, received a COVID-19 vaccine or messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine, provided

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that the patient's preferred choice is available.

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     (d) The department of health shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to

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implement this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BLOOD DONATIONS AND VACCINATIONS

ACT

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     This act would require that any person or entity that collects human blood for purposes of

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transfusions to require that the donor disclose whether they have received a COVID-19 or

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messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine, requires that all blood collected be labeled to indicate whether

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the donor has received those vaccinations and permits the recipient, in a nonemergency situation,

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to inquire whether the blood originates from someone who has received those vaccinations and to

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refuse the transfusion if the blood is not from a preferred source, provided that the preferred blood

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is available.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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