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SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 276 passed on a partisan vote, with all Senate Republicans voting against the legislation. SB 276 would create a system where government bureaucrats will review vaccination exemption requests and potentially overrule the decisions of family physicians. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) would also establish a medical exemption request database that would contain private and sensitive patient medical information related to the exemption requests.
Senate Republicans say the California Medical Board should crack down on doctors who issue fraudulent vaccination exemptions, investigate them, and pursue disciplinary actions where warranted. If the Medical Board requires additional tools to address the problem of fraudulent medical exemptions, then that is what the legislature should be working on, not well-intentioned, but unnecessary measures like SB 276.
Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield):
“I am concerned that SB 276 ignores the judgment of a family’s personal doctor and replaces it with a government bureaucracy.”
Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa):
"This bill is the wrong treatment for a misdiagnosed problem. Instead of preventing good doctors from providing individualized care, we should hold irresponsible doctors accountable for their actions."
Senator Jeff Stone (R-Riverside County):
“SB 276 directly undermines the previous decision of the legislature. It makes it look like we’re going back on our word. And to me, as an elected official, you need to keep your word.”