The new year arrives Friday, and with it a host of new state laws.
Here's our roundup of new ones coming in health. Most take effect on Friday, except where noted:
Vaccines: SB 277 was perhaps the most vehemently debated bill in Sacramento in a long time. Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) introduced the bill just weeks after a measles outbreak tied to Disneyland. The law requires that all children be fully vaccinated to attend school -- both public and private -- unless they have a medical exemption. The law takes effect July 1, in advance of the 2016-2017 school year. A second law related to vaccines requires all child-care workers to be vaccinated against measles, pertussis and influenza.
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Gov. Jerry Brown signed the End of Life Option Act into law with an unusually personal comment. The law permits physicians to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it. There is no firm date for the law to go into effect because it was passed as part of an ongoing special legislative session that was called by the governor to address health care financing. It won't take effect until 90 days after the session ends. California became the fifth state to allow the practice, along with Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont.
Medi-Cal for Undocumented Children: California became the first state in the country to extend state-subsidized health coverage to children who are living in the United States illegally. An estimated 170,000 children under age 19 will become eligible for Medi-Cal, the state's health insurance problem for people who are low income, when the law goes into effect on May 1. (Legislators are expected to consider SB10, which would extend Medi-Cal to adults, in 2016 as well.)