California Legislature passes strict school immunization bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California lawmakers on Monday sent the governor a contentious bill that would impose one of the strictest school vaccination laws in the country in reaction to a recent measles outbreak at Disneyland.

The Senate reaffirmed the bill striking California’s personal belief exemption for immunizations on a 24-14 vote. Mississippi and West Virginia are the only two states with such strict requirements in place.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown has not said if he would sign it. Although the bill passed the Senate and the Assembly with bipartisan support, it did not pass with a two-thirds threshold that would be needed to override a governor’s veto.

Parents opposed to the bill vowed to take legal action even though the issue has been upheld in court, including by the Supreme Court.

Other parents cheered the legislative vote and immediately turned their attention to swaying Brown.