By Don Thompson | Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills Monday to crack down on doctors who write fraudulent medical exemptions for school childrens vaccinations.
The Democratic governor acted without comment less than an hour after lawmakers sent him changes he demanded as a condition of approving the bills.
Legislators passed the second of two measures as protests by hundreds of emotional opponents boiled over, with dissenters delaying Senate debate for nearly two hours by shouting and pounding on walls and doors.
Others were detained by police earlier while blocking entrances to the Capitol as lawmakers scrambled to act on bills before their scheduled adjournment on Friday.
Lawmakers sent Newsom the initial bill last week aimed at doctors who sell fraudulent medical exemptions. Democratic Sen. Richard Pan of San Francisco agreed to also carry follow-up legislation that among other things would give school children grace periods that could last several years on existing medical exemptions.
The two bills are needed to “keep children safe from preventable diseases,” Pan said.
Protesters forced delays in both the Assembly and Senate. They unfurled an upside-down American flag from the Senates public gallery in a traditional signal of distress and chanted “My kids, my choice” and “We will not comply.”
They later returned to the Assembly, where they continued shouting “Kill the bill” and “Protect our children” as lawmakers considered other legislation.
Republicans in both chambers objected that there were no public committee hearings before the Assembly approved the measure with a 43-14 vote and the Senate followed on a 27-11 roll call.
“This goes past vaccines and is again a major government overreach,” said Republican Assemblyman Devon Mathis of Visalia, adding that, “Our medically fragile children are what are at stake.”
Newsom demanded a phase-out period for medical exemptions similar to one allowed when California eliminated personal belief vaccine exemptions in 2015. A kindergartener with an exemption could retain it through 6th grade, for instance, while a 7th grader could be exempted through high school.
The companion bill also would allow officials to revoke any medical exemptions written by a doctor who has faced disciplinary action.
The bill would make it clear that enforcement will start next year, meaning doctors who previously granted a high number of medical exemptions wont face scrutiny.
Republican Sen. JohnRead More – Source
