California Legislative Tracker

Recently Chaptered Legislation

2014 Chaptered Legislation

This page archives recently chaptered and adopted legislation.

 

 

Children

AB 2706: Assemblymember Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina)

Schools: Enrollment Assistance for Health Care Coverage

Summary (as Amended 07/02/14): This bill would require schools to add to their enrollment forms information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance.  Schools can either use a template developed by the California Department of Education (CDE) or develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form.  Schools are also authorized to include a fact sheet with their enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for children and families.

Last Action: 09/29/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

ACR 155: Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima)

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Toxic Stress: Effects on Childhood Brain Development

Summary (as Amended 08/11/14): This measure would urge the Governor to identify evidence-based solutions to reduce children’s exposure to adverse childhood experiences, address the impacts of those experiences, and invest in preventative health care, mental health and wellness interventions.  Based on the findings of the 1988 Adverse Childhood Experiences Study the legislature urges the Governor of California to consider the principles of brain development, the intimate connection between mental and physical health, the concepts of toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences, buffering relationships, and the roles of early intervention.

Last Action Date: 09/29/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Res. Chapter 144, Statues of 2014

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 357: Assemblymember Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)

California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force

Summary (as Introduced 2/14/2013): Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to implement and administer various child health and disease prevention programs. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish the California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force, an independent, statewide advisory body charged with developing a vision for children’s health in the state, among other tasks. The bill would also provide related legislative findings and declarations.

Last Action: 09/17/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 376, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

Clinician

AB 2051: Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego)

Affiliate Clinic Licensing

Summary (as Introduced 2/22/2013): This bill would require DHCS to respond to or certify affiliate primary care clinic status within 15 days after receipt and certification of licensure from DPH.

Last Action: 9/16/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 356, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

Dental Issues

AB 836: Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)

Dentists: Continuing Education

Summary (as Amended 6/18/2013): This bill reduces the continuing education (CE) units required by the Dental Board of California (DBC), for retired dentists who solely provide uncompensated care, from 50 CE units biannually to 30 CE units biannually; requires that all of CE hours be gained through specified courses; and requires the DBC to report on the outcome of this change at the time of its regular sunset review process.

Last Action Date: 09/09/13 Chaptered

Action Taken: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

Facilities

ACR 152: Assemblymember Richard Pan (D – Sacramento)

Patient Centered Medical Homes

Summary (Last Amended on 07/03/14): This measure would state that the Legislature supports and encourages the development and expansion of a California health care delivery system that identifies patient centered medical homes and is based upon certain principles of coordination of patient care.  The health care delivery model would ensure the patient establishes an ongoing relationship with a personal primary care physician or other personal licensed health care provider working in a physician-led practice team to provide comprehensive, accessible and continuous evidence-based primary and preventative care.  It would also require the coordination of the patient’s health care needs across the health care system in order to improve quality and health outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

Last Action: 9/02/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Res. Chapter 143, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 1755: Assembly Member Gomez (District 51) 

Medical information.

Summary: Existing law requires the clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice to report any unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information to the State Department of Public Health and to the affected patient or the patient’s representative no later than 5 business days after the unlawful or unauthorized access, use, or disclosure has been detected. This bill would instead require those entities to make those reports no later than 15 business days after the unlawful or unauthorized access, use, or disclosure has been detected. This bill would authorize the report made to the patient or the patient’s representative to be made by means other than mailing address, including email, as specified.

Last Action: 8/14/14 Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

 

SB 1299: Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima)

Workplace Violence Prevention Plans

Summary: The bill would require the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to implement violence prevention plans to shield health care workers from aggressive and violent behavior. Specifically, the bill would require: The creation of systems for investigating instances of violence; Strategies to determine appropriate staff levels to maintain security; and Training policies for identifying and responding to violence.

Last Action: 4/24/2014 Re-referred to Committee on Health

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

 Insurance and Exchange

AB 369: Assemblymember Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) 

Continuity of Care

Summary: This bill would require a health care service plan and health insurer to arrange for the completion of covered services by a nonparticipating provider for a newly covered enrollee and a newly covered insured under an individual health care service plan contract or individual health insurance policy whose prior coverage was withdrawn from the market between December 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014.

Last Action Date: 03/20/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 4, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 20: Senator Ed Hernandez (District 24)

Individual Health Care Coverage: Enrollment Periods

Summary: Existing law requires a plan or insurer to provide an initial open enrollment period from October 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, inclusive, and annual enrollment periods for plan years on or after January 1, 2015, from October 15 to December 7, inclusive, of the preceding calendar year.  This bill would require a plan or insurer to provide an annual enrollment period for the policy year beginning on January 1, 2015, from November 15, 2014, to February 15, 2015, inclusive.

Last Action Date: 06/16/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 24, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 964: Senator Ed Hernandez (District 24)

Annual Reporting Requirements

Summary: This bill would authorize the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) to develop standardized methodologies to be used by health care plans in making the annual reports on compliance with the timeliness standards.  It would make the development and adoption of those methodologies exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act until January 1, 2020.  The DMHC would be required to post its findings from the annual reports to its website.  This bill would also require the DMHC to coordinate onsite medical surveys of the health delivery system with respect to Medi-Cal managed care plans with the Department of Health Care Services.

Last Action Date: 09/25/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 573, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 972: Senator Norma Torres (D-Pomona)

California Health Benefit Exchange Board Membership

Summary: Board members appointed to the California Health Benefit Exchange are required to have demonstrated and acknowledged expertise in at least 2 listed areas, including individual health care coverage, health care finance, and purchasing health plan coverage.  This bill would add to these areas expertise of marketing of health insurance products, information technology system management, management information systems, and enrollment counseling assistance, with priority to cultural and linguistic competency.

Last Action Date: 07/21/2014 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 573, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 1446: Senator Mark DeSauinier (District 7)

Health Care Coverage: Small Employer Market

Summary: This bill would allow a small employer health care service plan contract or a small employer health insurance policy that was in effect on December 31, 2013, that is still in effect as of the effective date of this act, and that does not qualify as a grandfathered health plan under PPACA, to be renewed until January 1, 2015, and to continue to be in force until December 31, 2015. The bill would exempt those health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies from various provisions of state law that implement the PPACA reforms described above and would require that the contracts and policies be amended to comply with those provisions by January 1, 2016, in order to remain in force on and after that date. The bill would require that these provisions be implemented only to the extent permitted by PPACA.

Last Action Date: 07/07/2014 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 84, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 617: Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys)

California Health Benefit Exchange: Appeals

Summary (as Amended 4/15/2013): This bill would require the Exchange board to contract with the Department of Social Services to serve as the Exchange appeals entity designated to hear appeals of eligibility determination or redetermination for persons in the individual market. The bill would establish an appeals process for initial eligibility or enrollment determinations and redetermination, including an informal resolution process, as specified, establishing procedures and timelines for hearings with appeals entity, and notice provisions. The bill would also establish continuing eligibility for individuals during the appeals process.

Last Action: 9/30/14 Chapter by Secretary of State – Chapter 869, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 18: Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina)

California Health Benefits Review Program: health insurance

Summary (as Amended 4/17/2013): This bill would include essential health benefits and the impact on the California Health Benefit Exchange in the areas to be reported on by the California Health Benefits Review Program.

Last Action Date: 9/25/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 551, Statues of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

Medi-Cal

SB 508: Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) 

Medi-Cal Eligibility

Summary: Existing law requires a Medi-Cal applicant’s or beneficiary’s income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Existing law requires the department to establish income eligibility thresholds for those eligibility groups whose eligibility will be determined using MAGI-based financial methods.  This bill would codify the income eligibility thresholds established by the department and would make other related and conforming changes.

Existing law requires the department to implement specified provisions of federal law to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual who is in foster care on his or her 18th birthday until his or her 26th birthday.  This bill would instead require the department to implement those provisions to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual until his or her 26th birthday if he or she was in foster care on his or her 18th birthday or such higher age the state has elected under federal law. The bill would also require the department to exercise its option under federal law to extend Medi-Cal benefits to independent foster care adolescents, as specified.

Last Action Date: 09/29/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 831, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 1124: Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)

Medi-Cal Reimbursement Rates

Summary: Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Health Care Services develop Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for clinical laboratory or laboratory services in accordance with specified criteria. Existing law exempts from compliance with a specified regulation laboratory providers reimbursed pursuant to any payment reductions implemented pursuant to these provisions for 21 months following the date of implementation of this reduction, and requires the department to adopt emergency regulations by July 1, 2014.

This bill would instead exempt these laboratory providers from compliance with the specified regulation until July 1, 2015, and would require the department to adopt emergency regulations by June 30, 2016.

Last Action Date: 03/28/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 8, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 1967: Assemblymember Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)

Drug Medi-Cal

Summary:  Existing law establishes the Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Program (Drug Medi-Cal) under which the department is authorized to enter into contracts with counties for various drug treatment services to Medi-Cal recipients, or is required to directly arrange for these services if a county elects not to do so. Existing law requires a county to negotiate contracts only with providers certified to provide Drug Medi-Cal services.

This bill would require the department to promptly notify the behavioral health director, or his or her equivalent, of each county that currently contracts with a certified provider for Drug Medi-Cal services if the department has commenced or concluded a preliminary criminal investigation.  This bill would require that any communication between the department and a county specific to the commencement or conclusion of a preliminary criminal investigation is confidential and not subject to disclosure.
Last Action Date: 09/19/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 461, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 1045: Senator Jim Beall (District 15)

Group Outpatient Drug Free Services

Summary:  For purposes of Drug Medi-Cal, existing law requires that the maximum allowable rate for group outpatient drug free services be set on a per person basis and requires that a group consist of a minimum of 4, and a maximum of 10, individuals, at least one of which must be a Medi-Cal eligible beneficiary.  This bill would instead require a group to consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 individuals, at least one of which is a Medi-Cal eligible beneficiary. The bill would also require, if one of the individuals in a 2-member group is ineligible for Medi-Cal, that the individual who is ineligible for Medi-Cal be receiving outpatient drug free services for a substance abuse disorder diagnosed by a physician.

Last Action Date: 07/07/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 80, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 1315: Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)

Temporary Suspension of Medi-Cal Providers

Summary:  Existing law permits the department to make unannounced visits to an applicant or to a provider for the purpose of determining whether enrollment, continued enrollment, or certification as a provider is warranted, or as necessary for the administration of the Medi-Cal program. Existing law further requires that a provider be subject to temporary suspension from the Medi-Cal program, which includes temporary deactivation of the provider’s number, for failure to remediate significant discrepancies in information that he or she provided to the department or for failure to remediate significant discrepancies that are discovered as a result of an announced or unannounced visit to the provider, as specified. Existing law requires the provider to be notified, in writing, of the temporary suspension and deactivation of provider numbers.

This bill would require that notice of temporary suspension to contain a list of discrepancies to be remediated and the timeframe in which the provider needs to remediate those discrepancies, which must be at least 60 days from the date the notice of temporary suspension is issued.
Last Action Date: 09/29/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 844, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 1339: Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres)

Drug Medi-Cal Providers Criminal Background Check

Summary:  Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to screen Medi-Cal providers and designate each provider or applicant as “limited,” “moderate,” or “high” categorical risk. Existing law requires a provider or applicant designated as a “high” categorical risk, and a person with a 5% or greater direct or indirect ownership interest in the provider, to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence of past criminal conduct.

This bill would provide that if the department designates a nonprofit Drug Medi-Cal provider or applicant as a “high” categorical risk, the criminal background check and the requirement to submit fingerprint images and related information would apply to the officers and executive director of the nonprofit provider or applicant.
Last Action Date: 09/19/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 488, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 1341: Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)

Medi-Cal Eligibility and the Statewide Automated Welfare System

Summary:  This bill would require the Statewide Automated Welfare System to be the system of record for Medi-Cal and to contain all Medi-Cal eligibility rules and case management functionality. The bill would authorize the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention System (CalHEERS) to house the business rules necessary for an eligibility determination to be made, as specified, pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill would, if that authority is exercised, require CalHEERS to make the business rules available to the Statewide Automated Welfare System consortia to determine Medi-Cal eligibility.

Last Action Date: 09/29/14 Chaptered by the Secretary of State – Chapter 846, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 505: Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys)

Medi-Cal: Managed Care: Language Assistance Services

Summary (as Amended 6/19/2013): This bill requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to require all managed care plans contracting with DHCS to provide Medi-Cal services to provide language assistance services to limited-English-proficient Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are mandatorily enrolled in managed care by requiring interpretation services to be provided in any language on a 24-hour basis at key points of contact, and requiring oral translation services to be provided to the language groups identified by DHCS meeting specified numeric thresholds.

Last Action: 9/29/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 788, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

Mental Health

SB 578: Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad)

Marriage and Family Therapists: Unprofessional Conduct

Summary (as Amended 4/25/2013): This bill would specify that unprofessional conduct includes engaging in a dual relationship, as described, with a client that is likely to impair his or her professional judgment or lead to exploitation of the patient. The bill describes a dual relationship as a separate and distinct relationship beween a marriage and family therapist and his or her client that occurs simultaneously with the therapeutic relationship. The bill would require, if a dual relationship occurs and cannot be avoided, a marriage and family therapist to take professional precautions, including documentation of the dual relationship, to ensure that his or her judgement is not impaired and that the client is not exploited.

Last Action: 9/9/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 312, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

Tribes

ACR 55: Assemblymember Mark Stone (D – Monterey Bay)

Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Highway

Summary (as Introduced 09/27/2013): This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 68, in the County of Monterey, as the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Highway.  The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from non state resources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Last Action: 09/27/13 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Res. Chapter 135, Statues of 2013.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 52: Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles)

Native Americans: California Environmental Quality Act

Summary (as Amended 5/30/2013): This bill will require a CEQA, or California Environmental Quality Assessment, to be performed on projects that may have a substantial adverse effect on the environment. If a finding of significant changes to the environment or to tribal cultural resources, the project will be rejected. This bill will protect Native American historical sites and cultural resources from interference.

Last Action: 9/25/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 532, Statutes of 2014

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 406: Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa)

Tribal Court Civil Judgment Act

Summary (as Introduced 2/22/2013): This bill would exempt Indian tribal judgments from the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, and would instead enact the Tribal Court Civil Judgment Act. The new act would likewise provide for the enforceability of tribal court judgments in California, but it would expand the range of judgments that may be enforced to include all civil tribal judgments, except as specified. The act would prescribe the procedure for applying for recognition and entry of a judgment based on a tribal court judgment, the procedure and grounds for objecting to the entry of judgment, and the bases upon which the court may refuse to enter the judgment or grant a stay of enforcement. The bill would require the Judicial Council to prescribe a form for the notice of filing the application for recognition of the of the tribal court judgment, as specified. The bill would require that this application be executed under penalty of perjury, which would expand the scope of the crime of perjury and thus impose a state-mandated local program.

Last Action: 8/22/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 243, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

Miscellaneous

AB 1743: Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco)

Hypodermic Needles and Syringes

Summary: Existing law, until January 1, 2015, authorizes a pharmacist or physician to furnish 30 or fewer hypodermic needles and syringes for human use to a person 18 years of age or older solely for his or her personal use.

This bill would delete that January 1, 2015, date of repeal and would, until January 1, 2021, authorize a pharmacist or physician to provide an unlimited number of hypodermic needles and syringes to a person 18 years of age or older solely for his or her personal use.

Last Action: 09/15/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 331, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AJR 40: Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D- San Mateo)

Federal Poverty Level Measurement

Summary: This measure would urge the federal government to take steps to reform the outdated and inadequate Official Poverty Measure to better reflect poverty and the unmet needs demonstrated by the Supplemental Poverty Measure.  The Official Poverty Measure is a one-size-fits-all policy that leads to a distorted perception of poverty and an inefficient allocation of resources to fight poverty.  The Official Poverty Measure has failed to accurately measure poverty because it has not kept up with the changes to our economy and social science research.  It does not take into account that families no longer spend one-third of their income on food; they currently spend between 5 to 10 percent.  It also does not consider the variations in cost of living in different regions of our country.  The Supplemental Poverty Measure should guide the reform and updating of the Official Poverty Measure for administrative purposes in determining financial eligibility for programs intended to reduce poverty

Last Action: 09/09/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Resolution Chapter 163, Statues of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 1898: Assemblymember Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino)

Reporting HIV/AIDS

Summary: This bill would require any disclosure authorized under these provisions to include only the information necessary for the purpose of that disclosure and to be made upon the agreement that the information will be kept confidential. This bill would prohibit specified disclosures from being made without written authorization. The bill would include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and meningococcal infection for HIV/AIDS coinfection reporting to the CDC. The bill would additionally authorize, for purposes of the investigation, control, or surveillance of HIV and its coinfection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and meningococcal infection, local public health agency communicable disease staff to further disclose the information to state public health agency staff, who may further disclose the information to the CDC, as specified.

This bill would additionally authorize any local public health agency sexually transmitted disease control, communicable disease control, and tuberculosis staff to further disclose that information to state or local public health agency sexually transmitted disease control, communicable disease control, and tuberculosis staff for the purpose of facilitating appropriate medical care and treatment of persons coinfected with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or meningococcal infection, as specified.

Last Action: 09/25/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 566, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 2304: Senator Hernandez (D- Los Angeles)

Private Nonprofit Hospital Community Benefits 

Summary: Existing law requires private not-for-profit hospitals to, among other things, adopt and update a community benefits plan for providing community benefits either alone, in conjunction with other health care providers, or through other organizational arrangements. Existing law makes certain findings and declarations regarding the social obligation of private not-for-profit hospitals to provide community benefits in the public interest.

This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those findings and declarations.

Last Action: 9/10/13 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 116, Statutes of 2013.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 49: Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)

License plates: breast cancer awareness

Summary (as Amended 7/1/2013): This bill requires the Department of Health Care Services to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a special interest license plate that promotes breast cancer awareness.

Last Action: 9/16/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 351, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 809: Assemblymember Dan Logue (R-Yuba City)

Healing Arts: Telehealth

Summary (as Amended 6/25/2013): This bill would require the health care provider initiating the use of telehealth at the originating site to obtain verbal or written consent from the patient for the use of telehealth, as specified. The bill would require the health care provider to document the consent in the patient’s medical record and to transmit that documentation with the initiation of any telehealth to any distant-site health care provider to either obtain information of the patient’s consent from the originating site provider or separately obtain and document consent from the patient about the use of telehealth, as specified.

Last Action: 9/18/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 404, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SB 282: Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco)

Confidential medical information: required authorization to disclose

Summary (as Introduced 2/14/2013): The Confidentiality of Medical Information Act requires, among other things, that a demand for settlement or offer to compromise issued on a patient’s behalf prior to the service of a complaint in any action arising out of the professional negligence of a specifically certified physician and surgeon be accompanied by an authorization to disclose medical information to the persons or organizations insuring, responsible for, or defending the professional liability of the physician and surgeon in order to allow an evaluation of the merits of the demand for settlement or offer of compromise. This bill would extend these provisions to require that the authorization to disclose medical information also accompany a demand for settlement or offer to compromise issued on a patient’s behalf prior to the service of a complaint in any action arising out of the professional negligence of a person holding a valid license as a marriage and family therapist, as specified.

Extends the same requirements to professional negligence claims against a licenced marriage or family therapist that were previously applicable to only physicians and surgeons. Marriage and family therapists are important to help many Native families cope with the stresses that they face, but many Native Americans feel a distrust towards these services. In a survey, about 26% of respondents to the question “in your opinion, what is the most significant barrier that prevent urban Native Americans from getting counseling for their problems” answered that “stigma; mistrust; or fear of being judged”. Ensuring that the counselors are held to a higher standard may lift some of that mistrust.

Last Action: 7/3/2013 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 58, Statutes of 2013.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 496: Assembly Member Gordon

Medicine: continuing medical education: sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Summary: Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Under the act, a physician and surgeon is required to demonstrate satisfaction of continuing education requirements. Existing law requires all continuing medical education courses to contain curriculum that includes cultural and linguistic competency, as defined, in the practice of medicine. This bill would expand this recommendation to include, as appropriate, information pertinent to the appropriate treatment of, and provision of care to, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex communities.

Last Action: 9/26/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 630, Statutes of 2014.

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

Women and Girls

SB 1053: Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)

Health Care Coverage of Contraceptives

Summary: This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued to provide coverage for women for all prescribed and FDA-approved female contraceptive drugs, devices, and products, as well as voluntary sterilization procedures, contraceptive education and counseling, and related followup services. The bill would prohibit a nongrandfathered plan contract or health insurance policy from imposing any cost-sharing requirements or other restrictions or delays with respect to this coverage.  The bill would retain the provision authorizing a religious employer to request a contract or policy without coverage of FDA-approved contraceptive methods that are contrary to the employer’s religious tenets.  The bill would require utilization controls for family planning services for Medi-Cal managed care plans to be subject to the cost-sharing requirements described above.

Last Action: 09/25/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 576, Statutes of 2014

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

SR 55: Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)

Reproductive Health

Summary: Resolved, That the Senate of the State of California urges the United States Congress to pass and the President of the United States to sign Senate Bill 2578, commonly referred to as the Not My Boss’s Business Act, which would prevent employers from denying coverage of contraceptives regardless of their religious views; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate of the State of California reaffirms its support of the decision of Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113, which acknowledges that reproductive choice is a fundamental right that belongs to all women; and be it further

Last Action: 08/20/14 Read. Adopted. (Ayes 24. Noes 10. Page 4659)

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here

 

AB 1579: Assembly Member Stone (D-Monterey Bay)

CalWORKs: Pregnant Women

Summary: The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law provides that when a family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under CalWORKs, aid shall be paid to a pregnant mother for the month in which the birth is anticipated and for the 3-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated. This bill would, beginning July 1, 2015, will increase the 3-month period prior to the anticipated birth to a 6-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated.

Last Action: 09/26/14 Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 632, Statutes of 2014

For more information on this bill please check the Official California Legislative Information site here