A new bill could make it tougher for California parents to avoid getting their kids vaccinated.
State Senator and pediatrician Richard Pan wants more oversight of medical exemptions, which he says have tripled since California cut "personal belief" exemptions in 2015.
"We cannot allow the small number of unethical physicians to put our children back at risk," he said.
Under the Sacramento Democrat's bill, doctors would have to certify they've examined a patient before submitting a medical exemption request to the state's Department of Public Health, which would then make the call.
The department would also create an exemptions database.
The legislation would also give public health officers the authority to revoke bogus medical exemptions.
It's co-sponsored by the California Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, California.
Pan, a pediatrician and state senator representing the Sacramento region and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez who represents the San Diego area, introduced State Bill 276 today to strengthen oversight of the medial exemption process which a handful of doctors in the state are abusing by selling medical exemptions to parents, according to a press release.
"Medical exemptions have more than tripled since the passage of SB 277. Some schools are reporting that more than 20 percent of their students have a medical exemption," said Dr. Richard Pan in a press release. "It is clear that a small number of physicians are monetizing their exemption-granting authority and profiting from the sale of medical exemptions."
"Three years ago, we stepped up our state's vaccination laws to protect students and the entire public from being exposed to potential diseases. Now, we're seeing ant-vaccination parents and a few doctors get around that law by loosely seeking and issuing medical exemptions when families are willing to pay," Assemblywoman Gonzalez said in a press release. "The real cost is a threat to herd immunity and public health. That's why I am co-authoring legislation today with Sen. Pan to say enough is enough."
