Proposed Law To Require Vaccination For Schoolchildren Faces Long Slog Through Legislature
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) -- California lawmakers will take another vote this week on a controversial bill that would force most children in the state to get recommended vaccinations before they are allowed to attend public schools.
SB 277 -- a response to an outbreak of measles last year that was traced to Disneyland -- would require students to be vaccinated except for those who can't for medical reasons.
Hundreds of parents showed up at a state senate hearing last week to speak out against the proposed law.
"It is a violation of my children's medical and educational rights," Lisa Bochee said in a comment typical of parents who oppose mandatory vaccination.
Assemblyman Marc Levine represents Marin County which has one of the highest vaccination opt-out rates in the state. He appeared on KPIX 5 Sunday morning to discuss the political tighrope legislators are trying to walk.
"[State] senators are trying to be responsive but they also want to make sure that the bill is effective," Levine said.
The bill will have to make it through 4 committees, a full senate and then the Assembly, leaving questions as to what compromises will be made to it along the way.
On Thursday, state sen. Bill Monning was appointed to the education committee to fill a vacancy. Monning had previously voted in favor of the bill when it passed the senate health committee.
