RESOLUTION NO. ________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FONTANA OPPOSING RECENTLY INTRODUCED STATE LEGISLATION, SENATE BILL 871 (PAN), WHICH REQUIRES MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA AND REMOVES EXEMPTIONS FOR PERSONAL BELIEFS. FUTURE DISEASE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RATHER THAN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHEREAS, In fall 2021, Governor Newsom directed the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to follow the procedures established by the California State Legislature to add the COVID-19 vaccine to other vaccinations, such as measles, mumps, and rubella, required for in-person public school attendance in the state pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code; WHEREAS, Under California law, students are allowed to forgo vaccines required for in-person attendance at K-12 schools if a doctor says it is medically necessary to do so; however, since current law only applies to previously approved immunizations, the state must offer broad personal belief exemptions for all newly mandated vaccines unless lawmakers and Governor Newsom override that requirement by enacting new legislation; WHEREAS, On January 24, 2022, Senate Bill (SB) 871 (Pan) was introduced which, if signed into law, would mandate all students attending California public schools receive the COVID-19 vaccination and eliminate the personal belief exemption; WHEREAS, SB 871 also removes the personal belief exemption from any future or additional immunization requirements that are deemed necessary by the California Department of Public Health; WHEREAS, Personal belief exemptions have been a time-honored tradition under American law, most notably for conscientious objectors whose personal beliefs have been respected and tolerated, under rights enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution; WHEREAS, Governor Newsom has begun to lift emergency orders and other COVID-19-related state mandates, including lifting the workplace indoor mask mandate as of March 1st and lifting the indoor mask mandate for schools as of March 11th, thereby indicating the state’s recognition of rapidly improving public health conditions; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FONTANA DOES HERBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: Recitals. That the recitals set forth hereinabove are true and correct in all respects, and are incorporated herein.
Section 2: Opposing SB 871. The Fontana City Council opposes SB 871 and similar legislation, regulatory efforts, and state mandates which would require mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations without exceptions for personal beliefs. This includes vaccination mandates as a requirement for employment or enrollment in educational institutions, both public and private.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of April, 2022.
READ AND APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
_____________________________________
City Attorney
I, Germaine McClellan Key, City Clerk of the City of Fontana, and Ex-Officio Clerk of the City Council do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the actual resolution duly and regularly adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting on the 12th day of April, 2022 by the following vote to-wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_____________________________________
City Clerk of the City of Fontana
_____________________________________
Mayor of the City of Fontana
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
City Clerk
Resolution No. 2022-