A key state Assembly committee on Thursday narrowly gave thumbs up to a bill that would end New York’s policy of allowing religious exemptions from vaccine requirements — and the measure is expected to be approved by the Legislature before it adjourns next week.
The hotly contested legislation gained new momentum in recent weeks as New York City and its Hudson Valley suburbs have battled the worst measles outbreak in the country.
“The fact is the vaccination rate in New York is lower than what it needs to be, and lower than what it used to be,” said bill sponsor Jeffery Dinowitz (D-Bronx).
“It’s my obligation to try and protect the health and lives of children.”
The New York City Department of Health reported that as of June 10, there are 588 cases in the city since outbreaks began in September.
The worst outbreak remains in Williamsburg, tallying 437 of the cases.
The outbreak has slowed since Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered mandatory vaccinations in four Williamsburg zip codes in April.
But lawmakers who opposed eliminating the religious exemption from vaccinations cited First Amendment concerns.
“For me personally, I’m very pro-vaccination,” said Brooklyn Democrat Rodneyes Bichotte, who had measles and chicken pox.
But she voted no anyway during the Assembly Health Committee meeting.
“I don’t think there is necessarily an epidemic, I don’t think there is necessarily an outbreak … we are voting on taking the rights of a protected class,” Bichotte said.
The 26-member committee approved the bill by two votes — but after one Westchester lawmaker reversed his vote to allow the bill to advance to the entire Assembly, despite his personal opposition.
The count was originally stuck at 13-13, which would have killed the legislation, as a majority vote is needed to move bills.
“Although I will go on record saying I will vote no on the floor on this bill, I really feel the public and Assembly at large deserves the opportunity to vote on this matter, I’d like to vote in favor of allowing this to go and vote on the floor,” said Assemblyman Nader Sayegh.
The bill heads later Thursday for a vote in the Assembly, and the state Senate is also on track to pass the vaccination legislation.
A recent poll shows 84 percent of New Yorkers support having their kids vaccinated for diseases such as measles — regardless of parents’ religious beliefs.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said previously he will sign the bill into law.
