Wednesday, July 01, 2015

California's Governor Signs New Law Ending Religious and Personal Belief Exemptions To Immunization Requirements

California Governor Jerry Brown yesterday signed SB 277 (full text), a law requiring school students (other than those being home-schooled) to be immunized against ten specific diseases, and removing California's prior personal belief and religious belief exemptions.  Under the new law, only medical exemptions, certified by a licensed physician, are permitted. The personal belief exemption, however, is preserved for any additional diseases that the Department of Health by regulation adds to the ten listed in the statute. In his signing statement (full text), Gov. Brown said in part:
The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases.
 Los Angeles Times reports on the governor's action.