Legislation to tighten medical exemptions for childhood vaccinations in California is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk.
This is one of this year's most controversial bills, but senators gave it final approval on Wednesday. If signed by the Democratic governor, it will require doctors to legally certify that a medical exemption is valid. Approval of the bill comes as Newsom is also looking for eleventh-hour changes to another measure meant to halt the practice of some doctors selling fraudulent medical exemptions for vaccinations.
Senator Dr. Richard Pan is behind both bills. He says he hasn't talked with Newsom about changes the governor has proposed for the first one, but he notes that Newsom had committed to signing it after overwhelming support from lawmakers.