State lawmakers pass End-of-Life Option Act.

It might come down to pure emotion in real life, but in Sacramento, the right to end one's own life has been a political matter. 

In January, state senators Bill Monning, D-Carmel, and Lois Wolk, D-Davis, introduced SB 128, the End-of-Life Option Act. It would have allowed terminally ill patients, with a prognosis of six months or less to live, to obtain a prescription to a lethal dose of barbiturates. 

Monning and Wolk did their homework before introducing the bill, coaxing committee members who would have a say on SB 128 as it moved through the legislative process in Sacramento. They'd calculated their odds of passing such a bill were good. 

But when it was scheduled to go to the Assembly Health Committee in July, Monning and Wolk pulled the bill, doubtful it could get enough votes to pass.

Instead, allies in the Assembly introduced a carbon copy of Monning and Wolk's bill in what's called an extraordinary session on health—meaning different committees, different deciders. 

Wednesday, the state Assembly passed ABx2-15, by a vote of 44-35. (Assemblymen Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, and Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, both supported the bill, and were part of the team that reintroduced it under a new name and bill number.)

Friday afternoon, following impassioned speeches both supporting and opposing the right to die, the bill passed out of the California State Senate by a vote of 23-14. (State Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, voted no.) 

Monning spoke in support of his bill on the Senate floor today. "There’s no need to suffer," he said. 

Monning calls the vote a historic victory on behalf of the people he's been surrounded with this legislative session—those suffering from terminal illness, and family members of those who have died.

"Today, on September 11, when we mark the horror of violence," Monning says, "Today we move into that space of violence with a movement that is propelled by compassion."

The votes mark a major victory for proponents of the death with dignity movement, who have said without legislation providing for the right to die, they would put forth a ballot measure to achieve some form of legal assisted suicide for terminally ill patients in California. 

The bill next heads to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk. Brown hasn't said whether he will sign or veto the bill, but he has said he opposed using an extraordinary session to pass such legislation. 

"We're cautiously optimistic," Monning says. "We'll be following up with his office, and exploring how we might secure his signature."