California vaccine bill clears major legislative hurdle

Carl Krawitt, left, a supporter of a measure requiring nearly all of California school children to be vaccinated, answers a question during news conference at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Krawitt's said he had worried about son Rhett, 7, center, who was unable to be vaccinated while receiving treatment for leukemia. At right is Assemblyman Marc Levine,B-San Rafeal, a supporter of the measure and whose district the Krawitts live. The state Assembly is expected to vote on the bill, Thursday. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

By Associated Press June 25, 2015 1 min read

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California’s Assembly has approved a hotly contested bill requiring that nearly all public schoolchildren be vaccinated.

It’s one of the last major obstacles before one of the nation’s strictest vaccine bills heads to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

The bill aims to increase immunization rates after a measles outbreak linked to Disneyland in December sickened over 100 people in the U.S. and Mexico.

The measure passed on a bipartisan 46-30 vote after weeks of vocal opposition, with thousands of parents donning red shirts in protest of the bill at the Capitol.

The Senate already approved the bill once, but still must approve amendments before it is sent to the Democratic governor.