CHCA IS preparing for THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Take action
Attend events in your district and support our Religious Rights Coalition campaign.
Take Action
As a constituent, your voice is best heard by showing up and developing a positive relationship with your representatives.
SB 625 would:
- Require consent for the storage of a newborn’s residual blood sample and consent for the use of the sample for research purposes
- Require written acknowledgment from the parent or guardian that they have received information regarding the storage, retention, and use of the newborn child’s blood sample for medical research
- Prohibit any residual newborn screening specimen from being released to any person or entity for law enforcement purposes
AB 659 would add human papillomavirus (HPV) to the list of diseases for which immunization documentation is required for school attendance and would prohibit a school from admitting or advancing any pupil to the 8th grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school if the pupil has not been fully immunized against HPV. No personal or religious belief exemptions are available. The bill would also clarify the California Department of Health's authority to adopt HPV-related regulations for grades below the 8th grade level.
Attend events in your district
Many legislators will be holding holiday events during the months of November and December. Show up to the events your state legislator is holding and let them know that freedom to make health decisions based on your own research, experience, the advice of your health care professionals, and religious and conscientious beliefs is important to you.
Go to FindYourRep.Legislatue.CA.Gov to find your representatives. Be sure to sign up for their newsletters and/or call their district office to find out about upcoming events.
Support our Religious Rights Coalition campaign
CHCA and our partners need your help as we ramp up the Religious Rights Coalition campaign.
During the last few years, the pandemic policies have brought attention to the need for stronger protections for religious objections of employees and students to required medical interventions. Although courts have struck down some of the bad policies that violate 1st Amendment rights, no decision or law has reinstated the rights of children in California to religious or conscientious beliefs exemptions.
Right now we are working to grow the list of support for the Religious Rights Coalition Statement of Support for Religious and Conscientious Beliefs Exemptions. The statement reads:
Article One of the California Constitution recognizes every person’s “right to the free exercise and enjoyment of religion without discrimination or preference,” describing this right as “liberty of conscience.” I support the rights of families or individuals to make health decisions, without coercion, discrimination, or segregation, based on religious and conscientious beliefs. This includes the existence of religious and conscientious beliefs exemptions from required vaccines, with those exempted retaining the ability to fully access, without onerous restrictions, in-person employment, education, public resources, and any other function of society.
Take time this week to sign the statement and to share it with religious, organization, and school leaders in your community. Click here: http://religiousrightscoalition.org/.
Help bring back the rights of children.
