STATE OF CONNECTICUT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MATTHEW RITTER HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591 HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER March 29, 2019 The Honorable William Tong Attorney General State of Connecticut 55 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106 Dear Attorney General Tong, Pursuant to 3-125 of the Connecticut General Statutes, I am writing to request a formal legal opinion regarding the constitutionality of eliminating the religious exemption for required immunizations. Currently, state law provides: Each local or regional board of education, or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools, shall require each child to be protected by adequate immunization. . .before being permitted to enroll in any program Operated by a public or nonpublic school under its such child who. . .(3)presents a statement from the parents or guardian of such child that such immunization would be contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such be exempt from the appropriate provisions of this section. Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-204a(a) (2019). As you may know, three states California, Mississippi and West Virginia currently do not have a religious or philosophical exemption for required school immunizations. In addition, the lack of either exemption has been challenged and upheld under federal constitutional principles. I am asking your of?ce for a formal opinion addressing any state or federal statutory or constitutional impediments to eliminating the religious exemption for immunizations prior to being allowed to enroll in public or private schools. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, ?x Matt Ritter House Majority Leader LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, SUITE 4100, HARTFORD, CT 05106-1591 PHONE: (860) 240-8489 EMAIL: