A state lawmaker wants to boost vaccine requirements for children in Texas public schools and give parents fewer exemptions.
Right now, public schools in Texas can waive immunization requirements for students whose parents claim exemptions including medical, military or what the state calls reasons of conscience.
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, says he’s introducing a bill that would only allow military or medical exemptions.
"We want to close that loophole so we don’t end up like California and have a reemergence of these diseases that are so harmful for our children," Villalba says.
That loophole Villalba is referring to is a result of wording in a 2003 bill that former Gov. Rick Perry signed into law, which allows parents to use reasons of conscience, which include religious beliefs, to get their children exempted.
He says he knows he'll receive opposition to his bill.
"But in the end, I have to weigh the good of the entire community and weigh that stronger and heavier than I would weigh the exceptions from people who might have objections for religious reasons or for other philosophical reasons," Villalba adds.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 38,197 students received a conscientious exemption last school year. In Travis County, the percent of students with a conscientious exemption has increased from 1.13 percent in the 2010-2011 school year to 1.75 percent in 2013-2014.
