Bill > SB277

This bill significantly alters existing California law regarding school vaccinations by eliminating the personal belief exemption for most required immunizations, meaning students will generally need to be vaccinated to attend public or private elementary and secondary schools, child care centers, and similar institutions, with the exception of those in home-based private schools or independent study programs without classroom instruction. While medical exemptions will still be permitted, and students with a personal belief exemption on file before January 1, 2016, can continue their current enrollment until they reach a new grade span, all other students will need to meet updated immunization requirements, including those for pertussis for 7th-grade entry, starting July 1, 2016. The bill also clarifies that future immunization requirements deemed appropriate by the State Department of Public Health can only be mandated if both medical and personal belief exemptions are allowed, and it modifies the conditions under which a child can be temporarily excluded from school due to disease exposure.