Fresno (KMJ) The legislation that has sparked a heated debate across California is on its way to Gov. Brown’s desk.
Senate Bill 277 would require nearly all public schoolchildren to be vaccinated.
After a contentious hour-debate Thursday, the state Assembly passed the bill 46-30. Fresno Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson voted no while Democratic Assemblyman Henry T. Perea and Frank Bigalow (R-O’Neals) did not cast a vote.
Gov. Brown hasn’t said whether he would sign the bill.
SB277, authored by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan, of Sacramento, and Ben Allen, of Santa Monica, aims to increase immunization rates after a measles outbreak was linked to Disneyland in December.
Under the proposal, only children with serious health issues would be able to opt out of school-mandated vaccinations.
Valley representatives Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) both blasted the bill citing a violation of parental rights.
