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California Eliminate Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum (2016)
| California Eliminate Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2016 | |
| Topic Healthcare | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Referendum | Origin Citizens |
The California Eliminate Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum was not on the ballot in California as a veto referendum on November 8, 2016.
The ballot measure was designed to ask voters whether to uphold or repeal Senate Bill 277 (SB 277), which was designed to eliminate personal belief and religious exemptions from vaccination requirements for schoolchildren. SB 277 continued to allow medical exemptions from vaccination.[1] The referendum was proposed by former Asm. Tim Donnelly (R-33).
Supporters did not collect the required number of signatures, and the initiative failed on October 9, 2015.[2]
Text of measure
Ballot title:
Official summary:
- "If signed by the required number of registered voters and timely filed with the Secretary of State, this petition will place on the statewide ballot a challenge to a state law previously approved by the Legislature and the Governor. The challenged law must then be approved by a majority of voters at the next statewide election to go into effect. The law eliminates the personal belief exemption from the state’s mandatory immunization program for schoolchildren."
Background
In June 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that removed parents' right not to have their children vaccinated for religious or personal reasons. Senate Bill 277 outlines requires children receive 10 specific immunizations before they can attend school or day care in California. The bill takes effect July 2016 and several groups and officials, including Asm. Tim Donnelly, are fighting to pass legislation or initiatives to block SB 277 before the 2016-17 school year.[3]
Support
Arguments in favor
California resident Kimberly McCauley, whose daughter had adverse reactions to three immunizations, said the following about Gov. Brown:[4]
| “ | My daughter is the sweetest little girl, and every day she asks when she gets to go to school. She doesn’t deserve to be discriminated against. ... He signed this quick and dirty because he wants us to go away. We’re not going away. We’re going to sue. I personally will take this all the way to the Supreme Court.[5] | ” |
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argued the following:[6]
| “ | [Children] get the shot, that night they have a fever of 103, they go to sleep, and three months later their brain is gone. This is a holocaust, what this is doing to our country.[5] | ” |
Opposition
Arguments against
Sen. Richard Pan, a practicing pediatrician, said:[3]
| “ | It’s unfortunate that so many of them have been made fearful of vaccines from misinformation. I think the vast majority of Californians understand why this is so important.[5] | ” |
While signing SB 277, which removed personal and religious exemptions, Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement:[7]
| “ | The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases. While it's true that no medical intervention is without risk, the evidence shows that immunization powerfully benefits and protects the community.[5] | ” |
Sen. Tony Mendoza, who introduced a similar bill that requires preschool and day care workers to receive vaccinations, argued the following:[8]
| “ | One child’s death is one too many, especially when it may be preventable. With the recent deadly outbreaks of measles and influenza, we must do everything in our power to protect California’s children who spend time in day care.[5] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: California signature requirements
- Former Asm. Tim Donnelly (R-33) submitted a letter requesting a title and summary on June 9, 2015. A title and summary were issued by California's attorney general on July 13, 2015. 365,880 valid signatures will be required for qualification purposes. Supporters failed to collect 365,880 valid signatures by September 28, 2015. The initiative failed on October 9, 2015, after the California secretary of state determined supporters collected 233,758 signatures. Donnelly said Californians weren't ready to support the measure financially or by signing the petition. “People are terrified of this issue. ... The politicians, they want it to go away," he said.[2][3]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Tim Donnelly files referendum to overturn California vaccine bill," July 1, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 California Secretary of State, "1693. Referendum to Allow Personal Belief Exemption from Mandatory Immunization Program for Schoolchildren," accessed October 12, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Eureka Times Standard, "California vaccine law: Opponents’ repeal effort fails, but fight goes on," October 8, 2015
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Jerry Brown signs California vaccine bill," June 30, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Fresno Bee, "From death threats to holocaust warning, California vaccine bill an extraordinary fight," July 1, 2015
- ↑ Contra Costa Times, "California vaccine bill SB 277 signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown," June 30, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Times, "California vaccine bill battle erupts into all-out political war," July 2, 2015
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