Religion will remain an acceptable reason for New Jersey parents to exempt their children from receiving vaccinations required to attend public schools, at least for now, after a controversial bill failed to pass in the state Senate.
The New Jersey Senate Bill 2173 collapsed on Monday after its Democratic sponsors failed a second time to gather enough votes for its passage. The defeat came after a last-minute effort on Jan. 10 to secure a much-needed Republican vote. The proposed legislation was amended to allow private schools and daycare centers to admit unvaccinated children, which ultimately generated new opposition.
