The State of California Child Care Program had a number of legislative bills passed this year, and there are two that will be especially important for parents to be aware of that the Governor signed in October.
The first, SB 277, will require all children attending private and public day care or school based programs to be immunized and will eliminate personal/religious belief exemptions, leaving only the medical exemption in place. This bill is effective in January 2016. A child with a current personal beliefs exemption on file before January 1, 2016 will be allowed to keep that exemption until he or she reaches the next grade span.
Grade Spans are as follows:
Also see 
Parents’ Guide To Immunizations
The second is SB 792 and will require all staff and volunteers to show proof of immunization according to the most recent CDC Adult Schedule. SB 792 prohibits a person from being employed or volunteering at a child care facility if he or she has not been immunized against influenza, pertussis, and measles. SB 792 specify circumstances under which a person would be exempt from the immunization requirement, based on medical safety, current immunity, declining the influenza vaccination, or the date upon which he or she was hired, as specified. In addition, SB 792 requires any person hired as a teacher in a day care center to present evidence of a current tuberculosis clearance, as specified.
