Despite the tedium, some of last week's legislative hearings did provide insight into the thought processes of those who champion the Nanny State. The issue has come up because schools subject students to mental health evaluations without parental knowledge. They also ask students questions about the behavior of friends and family on topics ranging from sexual habits to gun ownership. Such intrusiveness diverts schools and is bad for children. Oddly, a coalition of immunization providers claimed that this bill would hinder their efforts to help.
Parents move a lot, they said, and the immunization schedule is complex.
Records are lost. Blocking data release would prevent them from using school information about a child's immunizations. This argument had many people scratching their heads. Though the coalition representative kept going on and on about day cares and preschools, the proposed law affected only school districts. Furthermore, Colorado state law requires that children be immunized before they start school.