The Senate Health Committee recently passed CMA-sponsored bill AB 2109 that requires a parent or guardian seeking a personal belief exemption from school immunization requirements to first obtain a document signed by a licensed health care practitioner.  Currently, California is one of 20 states that allows for the broad use of personal belief exemptions from immunizations that are required for children to enter school, and parents are only required to sign their name to a two-sentence standard exemption statement on the back of the California School Immunization Record or provide a signed written statement.  This bill would require that parents make an informed decision in consultation with their child’s physician before exempting their children from immunizations.  The bill now moves on to the Senate Appropriations Committee before moving to the full Senate.  If successful, it would then move to the Governor’s desk for signature.