Veto SB1479
Tell Governor Newsom to VETO SB1479
SB1479 has passed both the Assembly and the Senate House. It will go to Governor Newsom, he has 12 days to sign, approve without signing,or VETO the bill.
SB1479 COVID19 testing in schools: COVID19 testing plans (PAN)
Requires schools to continue COVID19 testing. This bill would require each school district, county office of education, and charter school to create a COVID-19 testing plan and designate one staff member to report information on its COVID-19 testing program to the department. The bill would require that all COVID-19 testing data be in a format that facilitates a simple process by which parents and local educational agencies may report data to the department. By imposing new obligations on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also authorize each school within a school district to name a staff member to lead its COVID-19 testing program. The bill would require the department to determine which COVID-19 tests are appropriate for the testing program.
Talking Points for SB 1479
- COVID-19 testing plans should be the responsibility of the public health department, not schools.
- COVID-19 transmission rates in schools are very low.
- Children are highly unlikely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and very few pediatric deaths associated with COVID-19 have occurred in California during the pandemic.
- Testing of asymptomatic students would lead to lost learning time and increased emotional stress for those subjected to implementation of such a plan.
- Asymptomatic testing of students can lead to unnecessary and harmful quarantines of healthy children due to false positive results.
- COVID-19 testing would put an undue burden on schoolsCOVID-19 testing should be optional
- COVID-19 testing should not be indefinite
- The bill creates a burden on our already overstretched public schools
- My child has disabilities/mental health issues/medical issues that mean it is hard/impossible for them to test
- SB 1479 in the bill analysis is $3 billion annually and this program is also contingent on being adequately appropriated, however only $1.8 billion is appropriated for this year alone – leaving schools in limbo when the money runs out this school year and next.
- Requires a costly three year COVID testing plan for school districts which neither CDPH or Governor Newsom currently require.
Current CDC Covid-19 Guidelines:
On August 11, 2022 the CDC streamlined COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk.
- Recommending screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.
Read full CDC Guidelines here
Read SB1479 here.
Veto SB1479
Tell Governor Newsom to VETO SB1479
SB1479 has passed both the Assembly and the Senate House. It will go to Governor Newsom, he has 12 days to sign, approve without signing,or VETO the bill.
SB1479 COVID19 testing in schools: COVID19 testing plans (PAN)
Requires schools to continue COVID19 testing. This bill would require each school district, county office of education, and charter school to create a COVID-19 testing plan and designate one staff member to report information on its COVID-19 testing program to the department. The bill would require that all COVID-19 testing data be in a format that facilitates a simple process by which parents and local educational agencies may report data to the department. By imposing new obligations on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also authorize each school within a school district to name a staff member to lead its COVID-19 testing program. The bill would require the department to determine which COVID-19 tests are appropriate for the testing program.
Talking Points for SB 1479
- COVID-19 testing plans should be the responsibility of the public health department, not schools.
- COVID-19 transmission rates in schools are very low.
- Children are highly unlikely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and very few pediatric deaths associated with COVID-19 have occurred in California during the pandemic.
- Testing of asymptomatic students would lead to lost learning time and increased emotional stress for those subjected to implementation of such a plan.
- Asymptomatic testing of students can lead to unnecessary and harmful quarantines of healthy children due to false positive results.
- COVID-19 testing would put an undue burden on schoolsCOVID-19 testing should be optional
- COVID-19 testing should not be indefinite
- The bill creates a burden on our already overstretched public schools
- My child has disabilities/mental health issues/medical issues that mean it is hard/impossible for them to test
- SB 1479 in the bill analysis is $3 billion annually and this program is also contingent on being adequately appropriated, however only $1.8 billion is appropriated for this year alone – leaving schools in limbo when the money runs out this school year and next.
- Requires a costly three year COVID testing plan for school districts which neither CDPH or Governor Newsom currently require.
Current CDC Covid-19 Guidelines:
On August 11, 2022 the CDC streamlined COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk.
- Recommending screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.
Read full CDC Guidelines here
Read SB1479 here.