California
California backs away from COVID vaccine mandates for kids
In abstract
The state decides it gained’t require COVID vaccines for kids this fall, and a invoice to mandate youngsters vaccines with out private perception exemptions stalls out.
Though greater than three-quarters of California adults are vaccinated towards COVID-19, opinions are extra divided with regards to vaccinating kids. That sentiment performed out Thursday when first, the writer of a invoice that may have mandated vaccines for all kids pulled the laws, after which once more when state well being officers pushed again the date of their scholar vaccine mandate.
It was a placing shift for a state that had been the nation’s first to announce a deliberate Ok-12 COVID-19 mandate.
The invoice by Sen. Richard Pan, a Sacramento Democrat who chairs the Senate Well being Committee, would have granted no private perception exceptions to the requirement that each one kids get the COVID vaccine to attend college or little one care. In sidelining his personal invoice, Pan mentioned the main target must be on ensuring households can entry the vaccine for his or her kids.
Inside hours, the California Division of Public Well being introduced it is not going to start the method of including the COVID-19 vaccine to the record of mandated childhood vaccines for Ok-12 private and non-private college college students as a result of it has not been accepted by the federal Meals and Drug Administration. Beforehand the state had supposed to require it for the upcoming 2022-23 college 12 months, however now that gained’t occur till not less than July 1, 2023.
The well being division mentioned in an announcement that even after COVID vaccines for teenagers obtain full approval, it will additionally take into account the suggestions of a Facilities for Illness Management vaccine advisory committee and the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Household Physicians earlier than issuing a college vaccine requirement.
Help for Pan’s invoice has been wavering for a number of weeks. Final month, one other member of the Senate Well being Committee, Democratic Sen. Connie Leyva of Chino, informed the group Stand Up Ontario, within the Inland Empire, that she was not going to vote for the invoice.
She mentioned she informed Pan, “I simply don’t suppose it’s the suitable time. We’re too divided in the neighborhood,” she mentioned. “I believe this invoice is just too divisive.”
Study extra about legislators talked about on this story
GOP political guide Mike Madrid mentioned legislators pull payments for a lot of causes, together with a scarcity of assist or as a result of there’s one other solution to attain the identical objective.
“If a greater solution to resolve it’s entry with out the acrimony of mandate that’s high-quality,” he mentioned. “The purpose isn’t to disagree, it’s to get to a degree the place we’ve public well being protections.”
Pan’s invoice was considered one of eight aggressive COVID-19-related payments launched as a part of a slate from the Legislature’s vaccine working group, made up of Democratic legislators. Among the many payments nonetheless alive within the Legislature are proposals that may punish docs who share misinformation, require faculties to proceed common COVID testing and alter how the state’s vaccination registry works. Additionally nonetheless in play: a invoice that may enable 12- to 17-year-olds to get vaccinated with out parental consent.
The COVID vaccine is totally approved for these older than 16 and might be given to kids as younger as 5 underneath an emergency authorization. It has been obtainable since final 12 months however the uptake has been gradual. About two-thirds of 12- to 17-year-olds have been vaccinated, however the numbers are a lot decrease for teenagers 5 to 11, with solely about one-third vaccinated.
Two-thirds of California voters supported requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for Ok-12 college students. However there’s a massive cut up alongside get together traces.
Citing the low COVID vaccination fee amongst kids, Pan mentioned a mandate is just not a precedence till the state could make the vaccine extra accessible. He mentioned that in his expertise, as a pediatrician, when dad and mom ask about vaccinations they need to see their little one’s physician. However most physician’s workplaces don’t supply the vaccine for COVID-19 and are referring households to drug shops or vaccination websites that aren’t child-centric.
“The problem is that we’re not getting vaccines into basically the locations the place individuals usually get vaccines for his or her kids,” he mentioned, referring to pediatricians’ workplaces. “We nonetheless have an extended solution to go.”
A Berkeley IGS ballot launched in late February discovered that two-thirds of California voters supported requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for Ok-12 college students. However there’s a massive cut up alongside get together traces: Democrats and liberals overwhelmingly assist a mandate whereas solely a few quarter of conservatives and Republicans do.
Amongst dad and mom, two-thirds mentioned they felt having their youngsters vaccinated was important or vital, whereas 26% p.c mentioned it was “both not too or in no way vital.” This query didn’t deal with the mandate.
Pan’s was the second of the working group’s payments to be sidelined by its writer. A proposal to require all individuals who work, together with contractors, to be vaccinated was additionally pulled.
Critics have been pushing again, arguing that the payments are burdensome and infringe on well being and privateness rights — and no invoice was extra controversial than Pan’s. Many dad and mom who opposed it mentioned that folks ought to get to decide on whether or not to vaccinate their kids, particularly when the vaccine doesn’t totally stop transmission and it’s nonetheless unclear how lengthy it’s efficient.
“We didn’t really feel it was the suitable coverage for kids with respect to COVID-19 at the moment,” mentioned Christina Hildebrand, head of A Voice for Alternative. The group advocates for parental alternative and has labored since 2015 to maintain private perception exemptions for varied vaccines in place. She factors to the low fee of COVID vaccination amongst 5- to 11-year-olds as a cause to carry off on a mandate.
“These dad and mom have had ample alternative to get their kids vaccinated however the dad and mom are hesitant,” she mentioned.
Pan mentioned it’s troublesome to require one thing that two-thirds of younger kids have but to obtain.“Mandates are good at getting you to that closing bit once we are at 80 p.c and must get to 90, not if you find yourself under half,” he mentioned. “If you’re that far behind there’s a cause. A few of it’s individuals have questions and need to get them answered, and so they need to hear from the individual they’ve been going to for a very long time to get vaccinated.”
Madrid mentioned the payments sign the potential of future vaccine mandates because the world turns into extra globalized and pandemics occur extra continuously.
“There may be an urge for food to have extra safety for public well being and never much less,” he mentioned. “You give it a 12 months and research how one can make it work if you’re going to cross laws this broad and sweeping. You need to be sure you get it proper the primary time.”
Pan mentioned the mandate is just not useless. He intends to observe the vaccination charges and mentioned it might be one thing he brings again later.
A bunch of California legislators has crafted vaccine legal guidelines that may be probably the most aggressive state strategy to vaccines within the nation.
U.S. gave closing approval Tuesday for kids ages 5 to 11. In some California counties, they are often vaccinated as quickly as as we speak.
Projected changes to California workers’ comp claims frequency and severity due to industry mix of employment are negligible through 2026, while employment in most industries fully recovered from the initial pandemic related changes by the end of 2022, a new report from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California shows.
WCIRB this week released an update to the Impact of Economic Changes on California Workers’ Compensation report.
The report shows that while employment in hospitality fully recovered in 2023, retail employment is expected to remain below 2019 levels until 2026. The report forecasts construction employment to grow moderately in 2024 and 2025 and slowly in 2026, similar to the overall growth.
Healthcare employment fell slightly in 2020, then rebounded in 2021. It is projected to grow modestly through 2026, according to WCRIB.
“Unemployment is forecast to increase slightly in 2024 and then decrease slightly, remaining at historically low levels,” the report shows. “WCIRB research has found that increases in unemployment are correlated with decreases in indemnity claim frequency. Given the current forecast of changes in the unemployment rate is small, there would also be a small impact on changes in indemnity claim frequency.”
Claim frequency rose substantially in 2021 due to the mix of employment by industry, an increase largely driven by the return of hospitality employment, but modest industry mix impacts on claim frequency and severity are projected to continue and offset each other, yielding negligible pure premium impacts through 2026, according to WCIRB.
Wages overall are forecast to increase strongly in 2024, then return to a lower increase in 2025 and 2026.
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California
California budgets up to $12 million for reparations bills, a milestone in atoning for racist legacy
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California plans to spend up to $12 million on reparations legislation under a budget signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, marking a milestone in the state’s efforts to atone for a legacy of racism and discrimination against Black Californians.
The reparations funding in the $297.9 billion budget Newsom signed over the weekend does not specify what programs the money would go toward. Lawmakers are not considering widespread direct payments to Black Californians this year.
The state Legislature is weighing proposals to issue a formal apology for California’s role in perpetuating discrimination against Black residents, to create an agency to administer reparations programs, and to identify families whose property was unjustly seized through eminent domain.
The funding comes after federal reparations efforts have stalled for decades.
“We often say the budget is a reflection of our values and our priorities, so the fact that there’s any money for reparations should be a reason for celebrating,” said state Sen. Steven Bradford, a Los Angeles-area Democrat, noting he hoped the allocation would have been larger.
No state has gotten further along in its consideration of reparations proposals for Black residents than California, but some have made significant strides. Illinois and New York passed laws in recent years to study reparations proposals for African Americans. Florida passed a law in the 1990s creating a college scholarship fund for descendants of Black residents who were killed in a 1923 massacre initiated by a white mob.
But some opponents of reparations proposals being considered by lawmakers in California say taxpayers should not have to have to pay to address policies and practices from a long time ago.
“Slavery was a stain on our nation’s history, but I don’t believe it’s fair to try to right the wrongs on the past at the expense of the people today who did nothing wrong,” Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said in a statement. “More than a quarter of Californians are immigrants — how can we look at those people, who are struggling as it is, and say it’s on them to make up for something that happened more than 150 years ago?”
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, a Democrat, said at an event Monday that “the $12 billion is not nearly enough” but that lawmakers worked closely to secure the money during a tough budget year.
Bradford introduced proposals to give property tax and housing assistance to descendants of enslaved Black people, but those were blocked in May by a key committee.
Kamilah Moore, who chaired the state reparations task force, was disappointed that lawmakers also did not introduce legislation this year to provide free tuition at public colleges for descendants of enslaved Black people, which the group recommended in its final report.
But Moore said it was still “good news” to see $12 million for reparations included in the budget as a starting point.
“It means that they’re taking accountability and responsibility, and they’re acknowledging the harms and the atrocities to this particular population,” she said. “That’s a huge step that should not be overlooked.”
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Associated Press writer Trân Nguyễn contributed to this report.
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Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna
Happy summer! Want to get out and have some fun, but don’t want to spend any money? Here are things you can do that won’t cost you anything at all. And here’s where you can see free fireworks for the holiday!
Movies In the Park, Riverside (Fridays, July 12, 19, 26): Bring a chair and blanket to hang out on the lawn. Movies begin at dusk. July 12: “Wonka” at Reid Park, 701 N. Orange St.; July 19: “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Bryant Park, 7950 Philbin Ave.; July 26: “Trolls Band Together” at Lincoln Park, 4261 Park Ave.
Long Beach Municipal Band concerts (July 2-31): “Music to My Ears” theme. 6:30 p.m. start time. July 2 at Whaley Park, 5620 E. Atherton St.; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.), July 9, 16, 23, 30 at Bixby Annex Park (aka Bixby Bluff Park) on Ocean Boulevard; July 11, 18 at Recreation Park, 4900 E. 7th St.) and July 5, 12, 19, 26 at El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Road). longbeach.gov
Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), Long Beach (July 7, 14, 21, 28 ): The museum is free every Sunday and always has interesting exhibits. Free docent-led tours are offered at 2 p.m. Sundays. Free advance tickets are recommended and can be booked online. Parking is free. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. molaa.org/visit
Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles (July 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31): The Autry is free every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. but reservations are required and limited.. Parking is free, too. Learn about Native American and cowboy ways of life, using historical artifacts such as stagecoaches, serapes, beaded clothing, firearms, photos and more. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org/free
Norton Simon Free First Fridays. Pasadena (July 5): If you’ve never been to this marvelous art museum, you should go. It’s free monthly on the first Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. There’s a lot to see so I’d get there early. It showcases the immense collection of the late billionaire Norton Simon, including masterpieces of painting and sculpture by artists such as Picasso, Renoir, Raphael, Van Gogh and more. Free parking. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena nortonsimon.org
Chevy show at Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum, El Segundo (July 27):
“Tri-Five Chevy Show” celebrates Chevy passenger cars from the years 1955, 1956, and 1957. Live music, food trucks and more. 10 am to 2 pm. Free admission, $15 to register a car. This museum features original and custom cars from the 1930s to the 1950s. Coffee, pastries, food truck and raffle. Open to all. 610 Lairport St., El Segundo. https://automobiledrivingmuseum.org/event/tri-five2024
Second Saturday ArtWalk, Pomona (July 13): This monthly event in the Pomona Arts Colony brings crowds to the streets as art studios, galleries, shops and more stay open late. 6-10 p.m. 119 W. 2nd St, Pomona. downtownpomona.org/events
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles (July 9): The museum is free to all on the second Tuesday of the month, but also free for L.A. County residents every day after 3 p.m. The largest art museum complex on the West Coast, this collection includes everything from David Hockney paintings to ancient artifacts to free arts workshops. (Note that part of the museum is currently under construction.) Children 17 and under who live in L.A. County can sign up for the NexGen program, where they can get in free any day and bring one person with them. Bank of America cardholders get in free the first full weekend of every month (Only the cardholder). Paid parking is nearby, beware of street parking in the afternoon — you could be towed. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles lacma.org/tickets
OC Parks Sunset Cinema (July 12, 19, 26 ): Activities begin at 6 p.m. movies start at sunset. Bring your chair and blanket. July 12: “Trolls Band Together” at Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Ave., Irvine; July 19 Barbie at Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim; July 26: “National Treasure” at Yorba Regional Park. ocparks.com
Concerts in Orange County Parks (July 11, 18. 25). Live music under the stars on Thursday evenings. All ages. Bring a blanket and chair. Food trucks available. Sponsored by OC Parks. July 11: Flashback Heart Atttack at Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Ave., Irvine; July 18: A Thousand Horses at Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange; July 25 No Duh: The Ultimate Tribute to No Doubt & Gwen Stefani at Irvine Regional Park. ocparks.com
Nature’s Open Door at Whittier Narrows Natural Area and Nature Center. (July 22) Open house featuring numerous organizations. Bird walk at 8 a.m. Other programs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.1000 S. Durfee Ave., South El Monte parks.lacounty.gov/whittier-narrows-natural-area-and-nature-center/
Mountain Grove summer concert series, Redlands. (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) Concerts at the Mountain Grove shopping center, 7 p.m. On the food court lawn. Bring a lawn chair. July 3: Woody Garcia; July 10: Rolling Stone tribute band; July 17: Tom Petty tribute band; July 24: Twisted Gypsy Fleetwood Mac cover; July 31: Michael Jackson tribute. 27511 San Bernardino Ave., Redlands, mtgrove.com/events/
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