California Eliminate Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum (2016)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
California Eliminate Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum
Flag of California.png
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:

Referendum to Allow Personal Belief Exemption from Mandatory Immunization Program for Schoolchildren.

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

See also

Footnotes