Immunizations: medical exemptions.

(1) Existing law prohibits the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting any person as a pupil unless, before the person's admission to that institution, the person has been fully immunized against various diseases, including any disease deemed appropriate by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law provides for medical exemptions from immunization requirements. Existing law requires the department to develop and make available for use by licensed physicians and surgeons an electronic, standardized, statewide medical exemption certification form to be transmitted directly to the department's California Immunization Registry (CAIR) and submitted directly to the school or institution at which the child will attend, submitted directly to the governing authority of the school or institution, or submitted to that governing authority through the CAIR where applicable. Existing law requires the form to be the only documentation of a medical exemption that the governing authority may accept. Existing law requires the department to identify medical exemption forms that do not meet specified criteria for appropriate medical exemptions. Existing law requires inappropriate or otherwise invalid exemptions to be reviewed by the State Public Health Officer or a physician and surgeon, and authorizes the revocation of the medical exemption. Existing law requires the department to notify the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, as appropriate, of any physician and surgeon who has 5 or more medical exemption forms in a calendar year that are revoked. Existing law authorizes the appeal of a revoked medical exemption by a parent or guardian, as specified. This bill would repeal these provisions. Existing law, prior to January 1, 2021, exempts a child from immunization requirements if the parent or guardian files with the governing authority a written statement by a licensed physician and surg