A. Each city, parish, and other local public school board that provides information relative to immunizations shall provide each student’s parent or legal guardian with information relative to the risks associated with meningococcal disease and the availability, effectiveness, and known contraindications of immunization against such disease. Such information shall include the causes and symptoms of such disease, the means by which such disease is spread, and the places where a parent or legal guardian may obtain additional information and where a student may be immunized against such disease. Such information shall be updated annually if new information on such disease is available.

            B.(1) The Louisiana Department of Health shall develop and provide such information to the state Department of Education. The state Department of Education shall provide such information to each city, parish, and other local public school board that provides information relative to immunizations, which shall provide such information to each student’s parent or legal guardian pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.

            (2) The Louisiana Department of Health, the state Department of Education, and each such city, parish, and other local public school board shall determine respectively the most cost-effective and efficient means of distributing such information.

            C. The Louisiana Department of Health, in consultation with the state Department of Education, shall establish by rules and regulations all guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions of this Section in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

            D. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any city, parish, or other local public school board, the state Department of Education, or the Louisiana Department of Health to provide or pay for immunizations against meningococcal disease.

            Acts 2006, No. 122, §1, eff. June 2, 2006.