By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor

March, 6, 2015 -- Less than a month into his freshman term as a Democratic State senator, Santa Monica native Ben Allen was already making headlines as the co-author of a bill to repeal the “personal belief” exemption allowing parents to opt out of vaccinating their children from diseases such as the measles.

This was one of 20 bills introduced for the 2015 session by Allen prior to the deadline last Friday. The bills cover a range of topics, including health, the environment, education and tenant's rights. 

Allen and Sen. Richard Pan’s (D-Santa Monica) vaccination proposal, SB 277, was introduced last month as a potential outbreak of measles became a hot topic. 

Among the places reporting cases of the disease once thought to have disappeared from this country was a Santa Monica childcare center.

“The high number of unvaccinated students is jeopardizing public health, not only in schools but in the broader community,” Allen said last month. “We need to take steps to keep our schools safe and our students healthy.” 

No legislator has come out against the bill, but there is plenty of opposition among anti-vaccine activists. 

One group has started a website and Facebook page encouraging people to contact their representatives to oppose the bill. An opposition petition features nearly 16,000 signatures. 

“This is clearly an attack on parents rights to choose whether or not to submit their child to a medical procedure with inherent risks,” states the petition on credomobilize.com. 

Another bill, SB 687, calls for the State Air Resources Board and two commissions to adopt a “a carbon-based renewable gas standard.” 

“[The standard would require] all gas sellers, as defined, to provide specified percentages of renewable gas meeting certain deliverability requirements, to retail end-use customers for use in California, that increases over specified compliance periods," the bill's description statement says.

SB 773 asks the University of California to conduct a study on motor vehicle registration fraud and failure to register. 

Included in the study would be a “quantification of the magnitude of the problem,” the cost in lost revenue to the State and local governments as well as recommendations to increase compliance.  

SB 775 addresses residential tenant rights. 

The bill has not been fully written, but the existing language says, “it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would clarify when a landlord or his or her agent agrees that a tenant’s payment for rent or deposit for security is accepted or rejected.” 

To become law, all bills must be approved by the Assembly and the Senate before being signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The deadline to reach the governor’s desk is Sept. 11.