Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey

State Legislative Tracker: California State Legislature takes on vaccine exemptions

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

BP-Initials-UPDATED.png This article may not adhere to Ballotpedia’s current neutrality policies.

SLP badge.png

Donate.png

April 13, 2015

Edited by Jackie Beran
This week’s tracker includes a look at a vaccination bill in California, a former state representative's guilty plea in Georgia and a controversial gun bill in Tennessee.

Weekly highlight

  • California: A bill that would expand the mandate of vaccination of California children in order for them to attend school passed through its first committee last week despite vocal opposition. The Senate Health Committee passed SB277 by a vote of 6-2 on Wednesday; the bill removes all exemptions from vaccine mandates, save for medical reasons, and requires schools to report immunization rates to parents. Supporters argue that the end result would be a healthier populace; others say that vaccines have been injurious to children and that parents should have the right to make the decision to vaccinate.[1] A gathering of those opponents, including activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., appeared at the Capitol Wednesday in protest.[2] The committee hearing for the bill was heated, with one opponent being removed and another telling members voting in favor that she would place a curse on them.[3][4] Testifying in favor of the bill, pediatrician Dean Blumberg said that there was "no scientific controversy about vaccine safety and vaccine effectiveness." The bill still must proceed past the Education, Judiciary and Appropriations committees before a floor vote; the state Assembly must then pass it. The controversy stems from last December's outbreak of measles that was traced back to Disneyland in Anaheim.[5] Currently, California is one of 20 states allowing for personal exemptions and one of 48 allowing for religious exemptions. Mississippi and West Virginia are the two states with vaccine laws similarly restrictive to the California bill.[3]
  • Georgia: On April 9, 2015, former State Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D) pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax document and no contest to five counts of mail and wire fraud.[6] Earlier that same day, Brooks resigned his seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. In his resignation letter to Gov. Nathan Deal (R), Brooks said that he was resigning because he wanted to focus more on his civil rights work.[7] In May 2013, Brooks was indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on 30 federal charges of wire, tax and mail fraud relating to his charitable work.[8] The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged that Brooks took almost $1 million in charitable contributions meant for the Universal Humanities and the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO) and used the money for his personal use.[6] A trial for Brooks had been set for June. Brooks has no plea agreement with the government, so the government can still pursue him on the 24 federal charges remaining in the original indictment.[9] While Brooks misappropriated funds from charities, he also under-reported his income to the federal government from 2008 to 2011. On his tax returns for those years, Brooks reported that he earned only $35,000 a year.[9] A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled. The tax fraud charge carries a possible prison sentence of three years, up to a year of supervised probation and a fine of up to $250,000. Each of the mail and wire fraud charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised probation, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution.[9]
  • Tennessee: The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday, April 6, 2015, that would make it illegal to possess a squirt gun within 150 feet of a school while still allowing those with permits to carry real guns.[10] The potential law is a part of a larger bill that seeks to override any local laws that prohibit gun permit holders from bringing a gun to parks.[11] The Tennessee bill provides a new list of items that cannot be brought within 150 feet of a school. Included on that list are an "explosive, explosive weapon, permanently disabled firearm, hoax device, imitation firearm, machete, or sword."[10] Guns, however, are not included in the explosive weapon category, according to a state spokesperson.[10] The law received national attention, including mention on the MSNBC show The Rachel Maddow Show, due to the fact that with a permit from the state, someone could bring a real gun to a school, but not a toy.[12] Existing Federal law prohibits an unlicensed weapon from being brought within 1,000 feet of a school, but includes a provision that allows gun holders to bring a gun onto school property if the state has issued a license to the individual.[10] The law was passed a few days ahead of the National Rifle Association's annual convention, which was held this year in Nashville. The state legislature set aside multiple days to discuss gun policy, which was dubbed "gun week" by some.[12]

Sessions

Regular sessions

Current sessions capture for the week of April 13, 2015
See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions
Click here to see a chart of each state's 2015 session information.

Currently 31 out of 50 state legislatures are meeting in regular session. Seven states are in recess and 12 states have adjourned their 2015 legislative sessions.

The following states have convened their 2015 regular sessions:[13]

In recess

As of today, April 13, there are seven state legislatures currently in recess:[14]

Adjourned

The following states have adjourned their 2015 regular sessions:[15]

2015 Legislative Elections

See also: State legislative elections, 2015

A total of seven of the 99 chambers will hold state legislative elections on November 3, 2015.

There are seven chambers in four states with elections in 2015:

The New Jersey Senate also typically holds elections in odd years, but all members were elected to four-year terms in 2013 and are not up for election again until 2017.

Of the 1,972 state senate seats in the country, 131 are up for up for election in November 2015, and 407 of the country's 5,411 state house seats are up for election. Altogether, 538 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats are up for election on November 3, 2015.

Primary Information

The state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates are as follows:

Filing Deadlines

Primary Dates

Special Elections

SLP badge.png
See also: State legislative special elections, 2015

There is one special election scheduled this week in South Carolina.

South Carolina House of Representatives District 63

See also: South Carolina state legislative special elections, 2015

Jay Jordan defeated Robby L. Hill and Elijah Jones in the Republican primary on February 24, 2015.[20][21] Jordan was unopposed in the special election on April 14.[22]

The seat was vacant following Kristopher Crawford's (R) retirement on December 9, 2014.[23]

A special election for the position of South Carolina House of Representatives District 63 was called for April 14. A primary election took place on February 24, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 5, 2015.[24]

Republican PartyFebruary 24 Republican primary candidates:
Republican PartyApril 14 special election candidates:

Recent election results

April 7, 2015

☑ Florida State Senate District 6

See also: Florida state legislative special elections, 2015

David Cox was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Travis Hutson defeated Dennis McDonald, Ronald Renuart and Beth Sweeny in the Republican primary. Hutson defeated Cox in the special election.[25][26][27]

The seat was vacant following John Thrasher's (R) resignation to become President of Florida State University.[28]

A special election for the position of Florida State Senate District 6 was called for April 7, with a primary on January 27, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2014.[29]

Florida State Senate, District 6, Special Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTravis Hutson 69.7% 28,939
     Democratic David Cox 30.3% 12,595
Total Votes 41,534
Florida State Senate, District 6 Republican Primary, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngTravis Hutson 52.2% 13,419
Ronald Renuart 35.1% 9,024
Dennis McDonald 12.7% 3,254
Total Votes 25,697
Democratic PartyJanuary 27 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican PartyJanuary 27 Republican primary candidates:
April 7 Special election candidates:
Democratic Party David Cox
Republican Party Travis Hutson Green check mark transparent.png

☑ Florida House of Representatives District 17

See also: Florida state legislative special elections, 2015

Cyndi Stevenson defeated John R. Capra and Michael Alan Davis in the Republican primary and defeated Mary Anne Boczek (I) and Judy Stevens (I-Write in) in the special election.[25][30][31]

The seat was vacant following Ronald Renuart's (R) resignation to run for Florida State Senate District 6.[32][33]

A special election for the position of Florida House of Representatives District 17 was called for April 7, with a primary on January 27, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2014.[34]

Florida House of Representatives, District 17, Special Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngCyndi Stevenson 77.7% 11,189
     Write-In Judy Stevens 22.2% 3,198
     Independent Mary Anne Boczek 0.1% 12
Total Votes 14,399
Florida House of Representatives, District 17 Republican Primary, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngCyndi Stevenson 41.6% 5,175
Michael Alan Davis 39.2% 4,874
John R. Capra 19.1% 2,379
Total Votes 12,428
Republican PartyJanuary 27 Republican primary candidates:
April 7 Special election candidates:
Republican Party Cyndi Stevenson Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png Mary Anne Boczek
Grey.png Judy Stevens (Write-in)

☑ Florida House of Representatives District 24

See also: Florida state legislative special elections, 2015

Adam Morley was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Paul M. Renner defeated Danielle A. Anderson and Ron Sanchez in the Republican primary. Sheamus John McNeeley withdrew before the Republican primary.[35] Renner defeated Morley in the special election.[25][36][37]

The seat was vacant following Travis Hutson's (R) resignation to run for Florida State Senate District 6.[38]

A special election for the position of Florida House of Representatives District 24 was called for April 7, with a primary on January 27, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2014.[39]

Florida House of Representatives, District 24, Special Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul M. Renner 67% 10,423
     Democratic Adam Morley 33% 5,133
Total Votes 15,556
Florida House of Representatives, District 24 Republican Primary, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPaul M. Renner 70.2% 5,970
Ron Sanchez 18.3% 1,561
Danielle A. Anderson 11.5% 978
Total Votes 8,509
Democratic PartyJanuary 27 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican PartyJanuary 27 Republican primary candidates:
April 7 Special election candidates:
Democratic Party Adam Morley
Republican Party Paul M. Renner Green check mark transparent.png

☑ Wisconsin State Senate District 20

See also: Wisconsin state legislative special elections, 2015

Duey Stroebel defeated Tiffany Koehler and Lee L. Schlenvogt in the Republican primary on February 17.[40] He was unchallenged in the special election on April 7.[41][42]

The seat was vacant following Glenn Grothman's (R) election to represent the 6th Congressional District of Wisconsin on November 4, 2014.[43]

A special election for the position of Wisconsin State Senate District 20 was called for April 7, with a primary on February 17, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 6.[43]

Republican PartyFebruary 17 Republican primary candidates:
April 7 Special election candidates:
Republican Party Duey Stroebel Green check mark transparent.png

☑ Oklahoma State Senate District 11

See also: Oklahoma state legislative special elections, 2015

Kevin Matthews defeated Heather Nash and Regina Goodwin in the Democratic primary on April 7.[44] Because no Republicans or independent candidates filed for the seat, Matthews won the seat in the Democratic primary.[45]

The seat was vacant following Jabar Shumate's (D) resignation on January 6, 2015, to accept a job in the private sector.[46]

A special election for the position of Oklahoma State Senate District 11 was called for June 9, but because only Democrats filed for the seat, the primary was treated as the special election. A primary election took place on April 7. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 21, 2015.[46]

Oklahoma State Senate, District 11, Special Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Matthews 47.3% 1,619
     Democratic Regina Goodwin 38.5% 1,317
     Democratic Heather Nash 14.2% 486
Total Votes 3,422
Democratic PartyApril 7 Democratic primary candidates:

Looking ahead

Upcoming special elections include:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Associated Press, "Mandatory vaccine bill advances in state legislature amid heated debate," April 8, 2015
  2. ↑ Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Pro-vaccine bill advances in Senate Health Committee vote," April 8, 2015
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Associated Press, "California vaccine bill sparks acidic debate, Nazi links," April 10, 2015
  4. ↑ California Healthline, "State panel votes to end vaccine exemption," April 9, 2015
  5. ↑ Los Angeles Daily News, "Pro-vaccine bill advances in California Senate Health Committee vote," April 8, 2015
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 11alive.com, "State Rep. Tyrone Brooks enters guilty plea on federal charge," accessed April 10, 2015
  7. ↑ peachpundit.com, "Tyrone Brooks Resigned his House Seat," accessed April 10, 2015
  8. ↑ gpb.org, "State Rep. Tyrone Brooks Pleads Guilty To Filing False Tax Form," accessed April 10, 2015
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 chron.com, "Ex-Georgia lawmaker pleads guilty to filing false tax form," accessed April 10, 2015
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Leada Gore, AL.com, "Tennessee considers banning water guns near schools. Real guns? With a permit, those are OK," April 8, 2015
  11. ↑ Dave Boucher, The Tennesseean, "House bill bans fake guns — not real guns — near schools," April 8, 2015
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Steve Benen, MSNBC, "The Rachel Maddow Show / The MaddowBlog," accessed April 10, 2015
  13. ↑ Stateside Associates, "Session Calendar 2015," accessed March 16, 2015
  14. ↑ StateNet, "Daily Session Summary," accessed April 13, 2015
  15. ↑ StateNet, "Daily Session Summary," accessed April 13, 2015
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed January 2, 2015
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 New Jersey Department of Elections, "2015 Primary Election Timeline," accessed February 2, 2015
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
  20. ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed January 14, 2015
  21. ↑ live5news.com, "Jay Jordan unofficially wins House District 63 race," February 24, 2015
  22. ↑ The State, "Jay Jordan wins special election for House District 63 seat," accessed April 15, 2015
  23. ↑ SCNow.com, "Florence Rep. Kris Crawford resigns from office," December 9, 2014
  24. ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "State House District 63 Special Election," accessed December 12, 2014
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Florida Department of State, "January 27, 2015, Primary Election Results," accessed April 23, 2015
  26. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 17, 2014
  27. ↑ Florida Department of State, "April 7, 2015, Special Election results," accessed April 23, 2015
  28. ↑ News4Jax, "Governor sets 3 NE Florida special elections," October 10, 2014
  29. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Notice of Special Election," accessed December 17, 2014
  30. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 17, 2014
  31. ↑ Florida Department of State, "April 7, 2015, Special Election results," accessed April 23, 2015
  32. ↑ News4Jax, "Governor sets 3 NE Florida special elections," October 10, 2014
  33. ↑ news4jax.com, "GOP wins trio of special elections," accessed April 8, 2015
  34. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Notice of Special Election," accessed December 17, 2014
  35. ↑ staugustine.com, "McNeeley withdraws from Jan. 27 primary," January 9, 2015
  36. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 17, 2014
  37. ↑ Florida Department of State, "April 7, 2015, Special Election results," accessed April 23, 2015
  38. ↑ News4Jax, "Governor sets 3 NE Florida special elections," October 10, 2014
  39. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Notice of Special Election," accessed December 17, 2014
  40. ↑ Fox 11, "Stroebel collects 67 percent of 20th Senate District vote," February 18, 2015
  41. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
  42. ↑ Daily Cardinal, "Voters re-elect incumbent Supreme Court justice, approve changes to court structure," accessed April 8, 2015
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Star Tribune, "Walker sets special election to fill Wisconsin Senate seat being vacated by Grothman," December 16, 2014
  44. ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
  45. ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official results for Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races Special Election on April 7, 2015," accessed May 6, 2015
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 SunHerald.com, "Governor sets date for special Senate election," January 5, 2015
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=State_Legislative_Tracker:_California_State_Legislature_takes_on_vaccine_exemptions&oldid=9475348"