Vaccine bill moves through Senate Judiciary

The high-profile vaccination bill continues to move through the Senate. SB 277, by Senator Richard Pan, would eliminate the personal belief exemption for required immunizations in order to attend private (K-12) schools and daycare facilities. After being heard in both the Senate Health and the Senate Education Committees, the bill was passed this week by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee. CSAC supports SB 277.

Laura’s Law

The Assembly Judiciary Committee passed AB 1193, which remains a concern for counties. AB 1193 would have required each county to implement Laura’s Law in their county unless the County Board of Supervisors opts out of participating. Despite amendments made yesterday (April 30), CSAC’s concerns about mandating that a Board hold a hearing on a particular subject have not been addressed. The bill would also extend the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Demonstration Project Act of 2002 to January 1, 2022 from the current repeal date of January 1, 2017, which is something that CSAC supports. CSAC has an OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED position on AB 1193, which will be heard next in Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Involuntary Commitment

CSAC has moved to an OPPOSE position on Assembly Bill 1300, by Assembly Member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. AB 1300, which is sponsored by the California Hospital Association, would make draconian changes to provisions related to detentions of suspected mentally ill people for evaluation and treatment, also known as the 5150 process. The bill, passed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week, will move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. CSAC encourages counties to individually oppose the measure as well.

Psychotropic Medications Bills Moving to Appropriations

This week, SB 238, sponsored by the County Welfare Directors Association of California, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 238 seeks to increase communication and training amongst all parties serving foster youth through requiring four key aspects:

• The Department of Social Services and the Department of Health Care Services to develop monthly data reports that match prescription and claims data with child welfare services records;
• The development of a system that triggers alerts to child welfare social workers and others serving the child such as attorneys and courts, when medications that could have dangerous interactions with psychotropic medications have been prescribed or when foster youth are prescribed unusual dosages;
• An update to the JV-220 court form to allow key stakeholders to provide information, feedback and details on the overall mental health and treatment plan for the child; and
• Training for child welfare social workers, foster children, caregivers and attorneys and Court-Appointed Special Advocates regarding psychotropic medications.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also took up SB 253 by Senator Monning, while the Senate Health Committee heard SB 319 and 484. All three bills were also passed and will be moving to Senate Appropriations next. CSAC supports SB 238.

Trauma Care Systems

CSAC is in opposition to AB 430, which was passed by the Assembly Health Committee this week. AB 430 would compel Local Emergency Medical Services Agencies (LEMSAs) to contract with independent entities to conduct an annual comprehensive assessment of their regional trauma system. It also gives Regional Trauma Coordinating Committees (RTCCs) the authority to conduct additional assessments.

AB 430 now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where CSAC will continue to oppose the mandates and loss of existing local LEMSA authority in the bill.

Medi-Cal Demonstration Bills

AB 72 and SB 36 are currently serving as the legislative vehicles to implement the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for California’s successor Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver. Both bills have moved to their second house and are awaiting hearing.

Additional Bill Information:

For additional information regarding CSAC’s position on specific health and human services bills and/or CSAC position letters, please see our legislative tracking page.