NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee legislators are hoping to help prevent college students from contracting a contagious form of meningitis.
Lawmakers have proposed a bill that would require incoming students at public higher education institutions to show proof they've gotten a meningitis shot.
Middle Tennessee State University freshman Jacob Nunley died last year less than 24 hours after contracting meningococcal (meh-NIN'-joh-KAH'-kul) meningitis. It is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
Currently, MTSU and most other public colleges and universities in Tennessee only recommend getting the vaccination to prevent the contagious disease.
The legislation is named after Nunley. It passed the Senate last week and is nearing a vote on the House floor.
