(SACRAMENTO, CA) – On Thursday, the California State Senate adjourned the 2015-16 Second Extraordinary Session and this action allows Assembly Bill (AB) X2 15, End of Life Option legislation co-authored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel), to go into effect on June 9, 2016.
“Now that the Second Extraordinary Session has been adjourned, terminally ill Californians will finally be able to exercise this right in the State of California,” said Senator Monning. “Californians will no longer have to leave the state, their families and their friends if they choose to exercise the end of life option in their final days of life. The conclusion of the special session and the implementation of the End of Life Option law allow Californians to determine the quality of life based on their own personal beliefs.”
The End of Life Option Act was originally introduced in January 2015 as Senate Bill (SB) 128, co-authored by Senator Monning and Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis). However, the language in SB 128 was placed in AB X2 15 in August 2015.
“While I am very proud of this achievement, the End of Life Option Act would not have been possible without the advocacy of many terminally ill Californians who worked tirelessly for the enactment of this law. Brittany Maynard, Christy O’Donnell, Jennifer Glass and so many others devoted their final days to the passage of the End of Life Option Act and I want to acknowledge their selfless, courageous efforts.”
Governor Jerry Brown signed ABX2 15 into law in October 2015, writing, “I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill.”
Studies demonstrate a large amount of support among all demographics in California for the End of Life Option Act. According to a study conducted by the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley, 76 percent of Californians polled support aid-in-dying medication for terminally ill individuals.
1 comment
Finally a clear sign of progressive, compassionate thought coming from our political leaders. Only the outdated/archaic belief that equates taking one’s own life with “sin” has kept an option like this from being made along.
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