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California lawmakers on Friday approved legislation that would make the state one of only a handful to grant terminally ill patients the authority to end their lives with the assistance of a physician. The measure, known as the End of Life Options Act, passed the California Senate on a 23-14 vote. (Lazo, 9/11)

The bill would allow mentally competent patients to request a prescription that would end their lives if two doctors agree the patients have only six months to live. The measure, based on a similar law in Oregon, passed the state Senate on Friday on a vote of 23-14, after passing the Assembly on Wednesday. (Bernstein, 9/11)

If Gov. Jerry Brown signs the bill, California would become the fifth state to allow doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it, after Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana. “Our hope, our fervent hope, is that Gov. Jerry Brown will sign this bill and bring relief to hundreds of dying Californians,” said Toni Broaddus, state campaign director for Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group. (Dembosky, 9/14)

“This is a real test for Jerry Brown,” said the Rev. Michael Russo, a Roman Catholic priest and retired professor of political communication at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. “It’s a real hot potato he’s been handed.” Brown, who studied to be a Jesuit priest in his younger years, has declined to speak publicly about the aid-in-dying legislation, which cleared its final legislative hurdle just hours before the end-of-session deadline Friday. (Gutierrez, 9/11)

Brown has not tipped his hand. He has 12 days to sign or veto the legislation, which passed the California Legislature over strong opposition from the Catholic Church and on the eve of Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. If Brown does nothing, the bill becomes law and takes effect next January, making California the fifth state in the nation to allow doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs to dying patients. (Pradhan, 9/11)