Governor Brown signed into law the most controversial bill in the 2015-2016 Legislative Sessions, SB277 – Mandatory Vaccines.
“I find it disconcerting that Governor Brown did not show the same consideration to the people who have dedicated their personal time and energy to oppose this bill as he did in his first term with AB2109 in order to protect the Religious Freedoms of Californian’s,” stated Mathis.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The vaccine rate has significantly risen in California thanks to Senator Pan’s previous bill, AB2109, which was passed when Pan was serving as an Assemblymember. However, when Governor Brown signed AB2109 into law on September 30, 2012, he wisely instructed the Department of Health to allow for a separate religious exemption on the form in order for Californians, whose religious beliefs preclude vaccinations, to not be required to seek a health care practitioner’s signature.
AB2109 was a success to ensure more students in our school system are vaccinated and with that bill, Governor Brown demanded an exemption which would not infringe on their Constitutional Rights.