Earlier this week on Tuesday, the Governor signed
AB 179 (Ting), which amends the Budget Act of 2022 to reflect
changes necessary to implement the budget agreement. Of
particular interest to counties, AB 179 includes the following
health-related funding components:
Monkeypox (MPX) Funding: $41.5 million General Fund ($25.7
million for state operations and $15.8 million for local
assistance) to the Department of Public Health (DPH) for purposes
related to the MPX state of emergency proclaimed on August 1.
Legislative intent language specifies that the Director of DPH
consult with local health jurisdictions on how to most
effectively distribute MPX vaccines, tests, outreach and
education, and treatments, to communities most at risk, including
marginalized and disadvantaged communities. The bill authorizes
funding to be transferred up to specified amounts between state
operations and local assistance needs at DPH’s request, subject
to Department of Finance approval and Joint Legislative Budget
Committee notification.
CARE Court: $57 million General Fund to the Department of
Health Care Services (DHCS) for allocation to counties to
support initial planning and implementation costs for the
CARE Act, as follows:
$31 million across all 58 counties to be used flexibly
for planning, hiring, training, and information technology
infrastructure costs.
$26 million for the first cohort of counties implementing
the CARE Act.
The county allocation schedule is to be developed by DHCS
in consultation with CSAC, and CSAC will consult with county
partners.
A reduction of the $64.7 million in one-time funding
initially provided in the 2022 Budget Act to state
departments and the Judicial Council by a net $33.7 million
to account for a phased implementation approach, with $31
million remaining for CARE Act implementation costs incurred
by state departments and the courts, contingent on enactment
of statutory changes codifying the program.
SB 1338 (Umberg), the implementing legislation, is
pending action on the Governor’s desk.
