The new California Childhood Immunization Law (SB277) goes into effect January 1^st, 2016.  The bill makes changes to the personal beliefs exemption for childhood immunizations requirements in public schools. Below is an interpretation of the bill by the California School Nurses Organization. For a comprehensive understanding of SB277, this link can be quite helpful in understanding this new law - Client Brief CSNO SB277

Back To School Implementation OF SB277
“SB 277 will bring about change to personal beliefs exemptions.  These changes become effective January 1, 2016. Students with personal belief exemptions or whose parents file a personal belief exemption before January 1, 2016: If a student has a personal belief exemption on file prior to January 1, 2016, the parent will not need to provide proof of vaccination until the student enters the next grade span (kindergarten and 7th grade).
Following is our understanding of how the grade-span implementation begins with the 2016-17 school year:   
If a student is entering any grade from 1st to 6th in the 2016-17 school year, the exemption will continue to apply until the student enters 7th grade

• If a student is entering the 8th grade or higher in the 2016-17 school year, the exemption will continue to apply until the student graduates high school

• If a student is entering either kindergarten or 7th grade in the 2016-17 school year, the personal belief exemption no longer applies and the student’s parent or guardian must submit proof of vaccination in order for the student to be enrolled.”