California Vaccine Bill Advances After Key Senate Panel Vote
The measure, which would require nearly all California children to be vaccinated before they can go to school, still faces a number of hurdles before it becomes law.
Los Angeles Times:
Bill Removing California Vaccine Exemptions Approved By Key Senate Panel
A bill that would require more California children to be vaccinated before they enter school passed a key Senate committee Wednesday as more than 100 parents protested that it would deprive many young people of a public education. The measure cleared the Senate Education Committee on a bipartisan 7-2 vote after its authors agreed to changes that would make it easier for parents to home-school their children if they decided against immunization. (McGreevy, 4/22)
The San Jose Mercury News:
Mandatory Vaccine Bill Advances After Key Vote Of California Senate Panel
Legislation aimed at reversing the state's liberal vaccine exemption law took a major step forward Wednesday in the state Senate, only a week after support for the bill seemed to be on shaky ground. (Seipel and Calefati, 4/22)
The Sacramento Bee:
California Vaccine Bill Approved By Committee On Second Try
Legislation requiring vaccinations for nearly all California schoolchildren revived Wednesday, winning the approval of a Senate committee that a week earlier looked poised to reject the measure. (White, 4/22)
Reuters:
California Bill Ending 'Beliefs' Exemption For Childhood Vaccines Advances
California's senate education committee approved a bill making it mandatory for children to be vaccinated before starting school despite opposition from “ant-vaxxer” parents who have packed public hearings and flooded lawmakers with calls. The bill, which has already passed the senate health committee, has several more hurdles to clear before becoming law. It next goes to the senate judiciary committee, before going to the state senate, and finally the assembly. (4/22)
Meanwhile, a Vermont bill to toughen vaccination policy also advances -
The Associated Press:
VT Senate Votes To End Vaccine Exemption
The state Senate voted Wednesday to end the philosophical exemption for childhood vaccinations and to make the full range of shots a condition for enrolling in school. The Senate's 18-11 vote came on an amendment to a House bill that now returns to that chamber to see if lawmakers will concur. The House declined to do that when the Senate passed similar legislation in 2012, and the effort failed that year. (4/22)