LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - A group of Democratic state lawmakers is proposing legislation to address rising cases of highly contagious diseases among children, which health experts attribute to declining vaccination rates.

The collection of proposed bills, called “Empower Parents, Protect Communities,” would give the state health department the power to set vaccine policies based on national medical expertise and require school districts to share anonymous vaccination data.

The legislation would also clarify the vaccine waiver process for parents who choose not to vaccinate their children.

“We must make sure that childhood immunizations are widely available, easy to find, and affordable to everybody,” said Dr. Lauren Azevedo, a pediatrician.

Rep. Matthew Longjohn (D-Kalamazoo) said the

See Full Page