SB 866 has died because it did not have enough votes to pass. Yesterday was the last day of the legislative session, which means SB 866 has been defeated!
We are thankful to God and for all who participated in winning this tremendous victory!
We have strongly opposed SB 866 from the start. Thank you for your important prayers and phone calls that played a key part in this victory! You can read our SB 866 Action Alert that we posted previously here: www.fpmca.org/sb866.
SB 866 would have authorized a minor 15 years of age or older to consent to vaccines that meet FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval and meets the recommendations of the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), without the consent of the parent or guardian. The bill would have also authorized a vaccine provider, as defined, to administer a vaccine pursuant to the bill.
Parental choice about which vaccines their minor children receive would have been entirely thrown out by SB 866. This would have been an incremental step toward giving minor children autonomy outside of their parents’ protection and making the government the “parent” by overriding parents’ beliefs and choices regarding their children’s medical treatments. SB 866 would’ve had broader implications than just medical issues, as it could have set a precedent for future bills targeting a parent’s right to make decisions for their children.
See what Assemblyman Patrick O’ Donnell had to say about SB 866 back when it was still alive.
This bill is a perfect example of why we need to stay informed on the happenings at the Capitol. Getting this bill off the docket means one less bill that encroaches on parental rights. Even if a bill only covers one issue, it can be used as precedent in the future if it is signed into law. Each bill like this chips away at individual freedoms. It truly is a slippery slope.
Thank you again for your effort on this bill! No further action is required on SB 866 this year.