GOOD AFTERNOON, WE WILL BEGIN
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
AS A SUBCOMMITTEE, WE WAIT TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM. SO WE WILL NOT
TAKE ANY ACTION ON BILLS, BUT WE
WILL BEGIN WITH BILL
PRESENTATIONS AT THIS TIME. I
WILL START WITH SOME
INTRODUCTIONS AND JUST OPENING
COMMENTS AT VERY THANKFUL TO THE
SPEAKER FOR, UH, APPOINTING ME
AS HEALTH HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR
. WE ARE IN A VERY DYNAMIC
MOMENT IN OUR STATE AND OUR
OVERALL HEALTH OF THE OF
CALIFORNIANS, WHETHER IT RELATES
TO PUBLIC HEALTH. ACCESS
AFFORDABILITY, THE STATE OF OUR
HOSPITALS, OUR WORKERS WITHIN
THAT ENVIRONMENT OR EVERY SINGLE
CONSTITUENT HAVING THE ABILITY
TO HAVE HEALTH AS A AS A HUMAN
DIGNITY, RIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS VERY CRITICAL TO US, SO WE
ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS
COMMITTEE. A NOTE ON OUR
PROCEEDINGS. UH I'VE AS RELEASED
TO TESTIMONY WE SEEK TO PROTECT
THE RIGHTS OF ALL WHO
PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
EFFECTIVE DELIBERATION ON
CRITICAL ISSUES FACING
CALIFORNIA. ALL THE WITNESSES
WILL BE TESTIFYING IN PERSON. WE
WILL ALLOW TWO MAIN WITNESSES
FOR EACH SUPPORTING AND OPPOSING
SIDE FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE
MINUTES. EACH ADDITIONAL
TESTIMONY WILL ALSO BE IN PERSON
AND LIMITED TO NAME POSITION AND
ORGANIZATION. IF YOU REPRESENT
ONE I'LL TESTIMONY, COMMENTS ARE
LIMITED TO THE BILL AT HAND. I
ALSO WANT TO WELCOME AT THIS
TIME NEW MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO
MYSELF TO THIS COMMITTEE WE HAVE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MATT HANEY,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REGGIE JONES,
SAWYER AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PILAR SZABO. WELCOME. AND AS THE
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU THIS YEAR TO ENSURE
WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND
IMPROVE OUR HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
SYSTEM. A NOTE ON OUR TWO YEAR
BILLS AS THIS IS THE SESSION
WHERE THE HEARING WHERE WE WILL
REVIEW OUR TWO YEAR BILLS, I
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF AUTHORS
OF ALL THESE BILLS THAT WE ARE
HEARING TODAY. AND WE'RE ABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS TO
HERE TO YOUR BILLS. THANK YOU
FOR WORKING WITH MY COMMITTEE
STAFF. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES
PENDING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING
TO WORK ON EITHER THROUGH NEW
LEGISLATION THIS YEAR OR THROUGH
NON LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS. MY
STAFF AND I ARE HERE TO WORK
WITH YOU ALL TO ENSURE OUR
CONSTITUENTS. GET THE CARE AND
DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE. WITH
THAT WE ALL MOVED TO CONSENT. WE
DON'T HAVE ANY BILLS PROPOSED
FOR CONSENT TODAY, AND SO WE
WILL GET STARTED ON HEARING OUR
BILLS. THOSE WILL BE HEARD IN
FILE ORDER. IN THIS INSTANCE WE
HAVE AN AUTHOR WHO IS READY TO
GO FOR A B 82 SO WE WILL BEGIN
WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WEBER
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DR WEBBER. AS
DR ROVERS APPROACHING THE, UH,
THE PODIUM, WE HAVE A QUORUM
ESTABLISHED NOW. SO, SECRETARY,
CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL? HERE TO
HERE, WALDRON. AGUIAR-CURRY
ARAMBULA. WENDY CARILLO. LARA.
IT'S FONG. AMY. JOHN SAWYER.
MAIENSCHEIN MCCARTY, JOE
PATTERSON RODRIGUEZ. SANTIAGO.
SZABO. WEBER. THANK YOU.
SECRETARY HAS ESTABLISHED A
QUORUM WITH THAT, DR WEBBER, YOU
MAY PROCEED ON A B 1316. THANK
YOU A B 82. THANK YOU CHAIR AND,
UM COMMITTEE I WANT I WILL BE
PRESENTING A B 82 THIS MORNING.
MAYBE 82 WILL BAN THE SELL OF
DIET PILLS TO MINORS AND LESS
PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN. THIS
BILL WOULD ESTABLISH AN ID CHECK
FOR THE SALE OF DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS AND DRUGS TO PREVENT
MINORS FROM PURCHASING THEM.
EATING DISORDERS ARE SERIOUS
PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM OF FACING
FACING PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, AGES
AND GENDERS, BUT ESPECIALLY
TROUBLING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
CALIFORNIA IS AT THE FOREFRONT
OF REGULATIONS CONCERNING WEIGHT
LOSS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND
DIET PILLS. WE DO NOT PROHIBIT
THE SALE OF THESE PRODUCTS TO
MINORS DESPITE WELL DOCUMENTED
DANGERS. RECENT STUDIES FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SCHOOL
OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND STANFORD
UNIVERSITY, FOUND THAT
INDIVIDUALS USING DIET PILLS AND
LAXATIVES WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE
DIAGNOSED WITH AND DEVELOP
SERIOUS EATING DISORDERS.
ADDITIONALLY AS NOTED IN ITS
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS, THESE
SUPPLEMENTS ARE REGULATED AS
FOOD AND THEREFORE DO NOT
UNDERGO THE RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC
EVALUATION FROM FDA THAT OTHER
DRUGS ARE SUBJECTED TO. AND
THEREFORE WEIGHT LOSS. DRUGS AND
SUPPLEMENTS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO
BE LACED WITH PESTICIDES, HEAVY
METALS, ANABOLIC STEROIDS AND
PHARMACEUTICALS THAT CAN CAUSE
STROKES, CANCERS AND SEVERE
LIVER INJURY RESULTING IN
TRANSPLANT. NONE OF WHICH WE
WANT OUR MOST VULNERABLE LOCKS
EXPOSED TO 23,000 AMERICANS ARE
SENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM EVERY
YEAR DUE TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
AND 25% OF THOSE ARE
SPECIFICALLY WHITE LOSS
SUPPLEMENT. ONE STUDY SHOWED
THAT 11% OF TEENS HAVE ALREADY
REPORTED USING DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR
WEIGHT LOSS. AND WE KNOW THAT
TEENS ARE ESPECIALLY TARGETED BY
THESE PILLS DUE TO SELF IMAGE
ISSUES THAT MOST ADOLESCENTS
HAVE THESE TEENS TURN TOO QUICK
MEASURES WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE
LONG LASTING IMPACTS THAT THESE
DIET PILLS AND SUPPLEMENTS COULD
HAVE ON THEIR BODIES. A STUDY
PUBLISHED HIS RECENT AS 2020
REPORTED THAT ADOLESCENTS AND
YOUNG ADULT WOMEN WHO USE OVER
THE COUNTER DIET PILLS HAVE SIX
TIMES THE RISK OF BEING
DIAGNOSED WITH AN EATING
DISORDER WITHIN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS COMPARED TO THOSE THAT
NEVER USED THESE DIET PILLS. IT
WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE
PASS THIS BILL SO THAT WE CAN
PREVENT ARE ALREADY VULNERABLE
YOUTH FROM UNNECESSARY HEALTH
PROBLEMS AND EATING DISORDERS
ASSOCIATED WITH WEIGHT LOSS
SUPPLEMENTS AND OVER THE COUNTER
DIET PILLS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. AND ON AND WITH
ME TODAY IS JESSICA MARQUEZ, WHO
WILL READ THE TESTIMONY ON
BEHALF OF KATE ROGERS FROM JENNA
, WHO WAS UNFORTUNATELY IN A
DIFFERENT COMMITTEE AT THIS
TIME, GIVING TESTIMONY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JESSICA.
I'LL BE READING ON BEHALF OF OUR
WITNESS. MY NAME IS KATE ROGERS.
I'M CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT U C L
A AND I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF
POLICY FOR GENERATION UP. JENNA
IS AN ENTIRELY STUDENT LED
ORGANIZATION ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON
ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO
REPRESENT CHEN UP AND TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 82.
MAYBE 80 TO PRESENT PREVENTS THE
SALE OF OVER THE COUNTER DIET
PILLS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO MINORS
ACROSS THE STATE. IN LIGHT OF
THE ONGOING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS. THIS LEGISLATION IS
IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER. I
LIKE MANY OTHER TEENAGERS DURING
THE PANDEMIC TURNED TOWARDS
EXCESSIVE EXERCISE AND
RESTRICTIVE EATING TO COPE WITH
SOCIAL ISOLATION. I KNOW
FIRSTHAND THE LONG TERM MENTAL
AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF DIETING
AND I AM NOT ALONE. ACCORDING TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
MEDICAL SCHOOL EATING DISORDERS
IN TEENS MORE THAN DOUBLED
DURING THE PANDEMIC. ACCESS TO
WEIGHT LOSS, PRODUCT PRODUCTS
AND DIET SUPPLEMENTS ONLY MAKES
IT EASIER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO
FALL INTO DANGEROUS HABITS. NOT
ONLY DO THESE PRODUCTS ENCOURAGE
UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS, THEY'RE
ALSO UNSAFE. IF USED IN EXCESS
WEIGHT LOSS PILLS CAN RESULT IN
SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES,
INCLUDING DEATH. IT IS TIME FOR
THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE THE
NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT DIET
PILL RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS
FROM PROHIBITED PROFITING.
EXCUSE ME OFF OF THE RISE OF
DISORDERED EATING IN
CALIFORNIA'S TEENAGERS ON BEHALF
OF THE 4000 ASSOCIATED MEMBERS
OF JENNA, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
PROTECT CALIFORNIA YOUTH AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I VOTE
ON A B 82 TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH WITHOUT ANY
OTHER PRIMARY WITNESSES AND
SUPPORT WILL NOW MOVE TO ANY
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES AND
SUPPORTS WE'RE IN THE HEARING
ROOM. WE WANT TO OFFER ME TOO.
SEEING NONE ARE THERE. THERE WE
GO. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION PRIMARY
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION. OR WHO
ARE NOT IN SUPPORT. WE'LL HAVE
TWO MINUTES FOR EACH WITNESS IN
OPPOSITION. AH, AH AND. OH
SORRY. THREE MINUTES FOR EACH
WITNESS AND OPPOSITION. PLEASE
GO AHEAD AND BEGIN. SO SORRY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS. HAPPY NEW YEAR. I HOPE
YOU ALL HAD PLEASANT HOLIDAYS
AND SAW YOUR FAMILY'S ROBERT
RETRIEVER, THE CALIFORNIA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE ARE
OPPOSED, BUT I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO
RESTRICTIONS ON PRESCRIPTIONS ON
THESE DRUGS WERE NOT OPPOSED TO
THE POLICY HERE AT ALL. WE ARE
NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE
OPPOSITION STATEMENT IN THE
ANALYSIS FROM THE NATIONAL
APPROX ASSOCIATION. WE WERE
POSTING A VERY NARROW GROUND.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THE OFFICE OFFICE
ABOUT THIS RELATED TO THE BILL,
AS WRITTEN PRESENTLY REQUIRES US
TO CHANGE POLICY, WHICH IS AGAIN
NOT OUR ISSUE AROUND THESE DRUGS
, BUT INCLUDES A LINE SAYING
THAT IF A STAFF MEMBER FAILS TO
DO WHAT WE ALL WANT, FAILS TO
CHECK IEDS FAILS TO INSIST ON
PRESCRIPTION. WE CANNOT
DISCIPLINE THEM FOR FAILING TO
DO THAT. AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST
BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO
EFFECTUATE THE BILL, WE HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO DISCIPLINE STAFF WHO
DON'T DO WHAT YOU AND WE WANT.
UM SO WE PLAN TO PROPOSE
AMENDING THAT WE'VE ALREADY
SPOKEN. EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE
IMMENSE SHORTLY AND HOPE TO MOVE
OPPOSITION WHEN THAT TIME COMES.
THANK YOU. I THINK YOUR NEXT
WITNESS THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS ANTHONY SAMPSON WITH
SAMSON ADVISORS HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE
NUTRITION. CRN LEADING
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE
DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AND
FUNCTIONAL FOOD MANUFACTURERS
AND INGREDIENTS SUPPLIERS. CRN
ACTUALLY REMOVED ITS OPPOSITION
TO THIS VERY BILL IN THE FORM OF
1340 Y B 1341 INTRODUCED A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. UM THAT
AFTER LONG NEGOTIATIONS AND
DISCUSSIONS WITH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CRISTINA GARCIA
, THE AUTHOR AT THE TIME, UM WE
WERE ABLE TO REMOVE OPPOSITION
BEFORE THAT MADE IT TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK. UNFORTUNATELY
THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT BILL
AND IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 IN
SEPTEMBER, 2022 AND THEN
CONVENED A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE
THE ISSUES INVOLVED AND A TASK
FORCE WITH DEVELOPING REPORT ON
THEIR FINDINGS. CRN WAS ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN AS A AS AN
OBSERVER ON THOSE DISCUSSIONS,
AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
DUE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, UM,
BUT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.
UM WE WOULD HAVE ENJOYED HAVING
A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS HERE TODAY. UM
BUT ANXIOUSLY AWAIT OF THOSE TO
BE RELEASED AND APPRECIATE THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WILLINGNESS TO
CONTINUE ENGAGING IN PRODUCTIVE
DIALOGUE. WE SEE. WE SEE RN AS
IT CONTINUES THROUGH THE
PROCESS. UM UM. YOU KNOW, WE
BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A WAY TO
NARROWLY TAILOR THIS POLICY THAT
WILL ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE
AUTHOR WHILE ENSURING THAT
LEGITIMATE, SAFE AND REGULATED
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS REMAIN
AVAILABLE IN THE MARKETPLACE,
AND THE RETAILERS HAVE CLEAR
DIRECTION FROM AN APPROPRIATE
PUBLIC HEALTH. AUTHORITY AS TO
WHICH PRODUCTS ARE AFFECTED BY
THE RESTRICTIONS. SO AGAIN, UM
WE WERE NEUTRAL ON 1341. WHEN IT
WAS IN THE SAME FORM. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT CD PH INTENDS TO
RELEASE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A
PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE MOVING
FORWARD ON THIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN THE HEARING ROOM IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE WILL
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AGUIAR-CURRY.
IS YOUR INTENT. UM SOME REMEMBER
IS THAT ONCE WE GET THE
STAKEHOLDER GROUP HAS THAT
INFORMATION THE REPORT WILL YOU
BE AMENDING BILL, IF NECESSARY?
YES WE, TOO, WERE ANXIOUSLY
ANTICIPATING THE RELEASE OF THE
REPORT AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE IT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
UM BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T
THERE. AND SO WE DO PLAN ON
TAKING. LOOK AT IT, UM, ADD
MENDING OUR BILL AS NECESSARY
ONCE THEY DO FINALLY RELEASED
HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CHICAGO. I JUST
WANTED TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM YOU
KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUE AS A MOM OF A DAUGHTER AND
A STEPDAUGHTER. UM I KNOW YOU
KNOW HOW CHALLENGING THESE TIMES
ARE FOR OUR YOUNG GIRLS AND
YOUNG KIDS, UM, AND WOULD HAPPY
BE HAPPY TO SIGN ON AS A CO
AUTHOR. THANK YOU SEEING NO
OTHER COMMENT FROM THE
COMMITTEE. UH WE HAVE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA DOCTOR
ARAMBULA, WHO OFFERED A MOTION
THE MOTION IS TO DO PASS TO
JUDICIARY AND A SECOND BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AGUIAR-CURRY.
WITH THAT. YOU MAY CLOSE. WELL I
WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE
COMMITTEE STAFF AND YOU ALL FOR
ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THIS BILL
TODAY. UM I WANT TO THANK MY
SUPPORTER HERE. ABSENCE BUT ALSO
THOSE WHO CAME TO SPEAK. I DO
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
CHAMBER, WHICH JUST HEARD ABOUT
THE CONCERNS A FEW DAYS AGO AND
WORK WITH YOU ALL BEFORE WITH
THAT SAME CONCERN ON A PREVIOUS
BILL, AND I'M I AM VERY
CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO
WORK. UH, COME TO A REASONABLE
CONCLUSION THAT WILL ALLOW YOU
ALL TO BECOME NEUTRAL. BUT THIS
IS A VERY IMPORTANT BILL FOR THE
HEALTH OF OUR ADOLESCENTS. AND
UM AND THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF
THIS STATE. AND SO WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
ON A BEING 8482. THANK YOU,
SECRETARY. CAN YOU CALL THE
ROLL? I WANT TO. I WANT TO I
WALDRON WALDRON, I CURRY CURRY,
I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I WENDY
CARILLO, WENDY CARILLO, I FLORA.
LARA, NOT VOTING. VINCE FONG.
WANG NOT VOTING. HANEY. ANY I
JOAN SAWYER. JOHN SAWYER. I
MAIENSCHEIN. MCCARTHY. JOE
PATTERSON. PATERSON, NOT VOTING.
RODRIGUEZ. SANTIAGO BROUGH. VÚI
WEBER. HOWEVER, I. THAT BILL
PASSES WITH A VOTE OF 9 TO 0.
THANK YOU WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE
ON TO A B 1316. MR IRWIN'S BILL
PRESENTED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
AWARD TODAY. HE'S GOING TO JOIN
US.
THANK YOU EVER. UH, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT
A B 1316 TODAY, WHICH I'VE
JOINED AUTHOR WITH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S IRWIN AS THE
NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA'S
PRESENTING IN A PSYCHIATRIC
CRISIS CONTINUES TO INCREASE
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
HAVE BECOME A CRITICAL PART OF
THE SAFETY NET FOR INDIVIDUALS
WHO DESPERATELY NEEDS
PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT. IN RECENT
YEARS, THOUGH, COUNTIES HAVE
INSTRUCTED HOSPITALS TO HOLD A
PATIENT IN THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT IF THE PATIENT IS ON
AN INVOLUNTARY SITE, PSYCHIATRIC
HOLD OR IF THE PATIENT HAS
MEDICAL, LEADING TO AN
UNNECESSARY, PROLONGED STAY. IN
THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. IN
FACT, DATA SUGGESTED ABOUT 25%
OF INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND
PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS REMAIN THERE.
AFTER THREE DAYS. THIS HAS LED
TO VALUABLE E D SPACE BEING
TAKEN UP IN THE HOSPITALS ACROSS
THE STATE. MAYBE 1316 WOULD
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. CLARIFYING
THE HOSPITALS MAY ARRANGE A
TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE TRANSFER
FOR PATIENTS REQUIRING INPATIENT
PSYCHIATRIC CARE TO THE FIRST
AVAILABLE BED AT AN INPATIENT
FACILITY, REGARDLESS OF PAY YOUR
PREFERENCE. THE BILL ALSO
CLARIFIES THAT MEDICAL MANAGED
CARE PLANS MUST PAY HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR THE
CARE THEY PROVIDE TO MEDICAL
BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCING A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THIS WOULD
QUALIFY AND EXISTING DHC S
POLICY THAT SOUGHT TO ENSURE THE
HOSPITALS ARE PAID FOR THE
MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES THEY
PROVIDE WITH ME TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL IS KIRSTEN
BARLOW, VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY
AT THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT THIS BILL AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE TO REPRESENT
ASSEMBLYWOMAN IRWIN TODAY. UM,
YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF
EXPLAINING WHAT THE BILL DOES,
SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK
THROUGH THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT
WE'RE AIMING TO ACHIEVE HERE.
BUT REALLY, TO POINT OUT A
COUPLE OF THINGS WHEN, IN THE
CASE OF COUNTIES, ASKING A
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM TO HOLD
ON TO A PATIENT BECAUSE THEY'RE
ON AN INVOLUNTARY HOLD. OR
BECAUSE THEY HAVE MEDICAL. UM
THAT'S REALLY TREATING PATIENTS
WITH A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY
VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN AN
EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN WOULD
BE TREATING ANY OTHER KIND OF
MEDICAL EMERGENCY. UM AND SO WE
REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR HOSPITALS KNOW THAT THEY ARE
EMPOWERED TO REALLY GET PATIENTS
TO THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. UM THE SAME
WAY THAT WE WOULD WITH ANY OTHER
MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT PRESENTS
IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. UM UNDER
FEDERAL LAWS, YOU KNOW,
HOSPITALS ARE OBLIGATED, IN
FACT, TO MAKE THOSE TRANSFERS
TIMELY WITHOUT EVER ASKING
ANYTHING ABOUT THE PERSON'S
INSURANCE. UM IN TERMS OF
ENSURING THAT WE CLEAR UP WHO
PAYS FOR THE MEDICAL VISIT. WE
LEARNED JUST BY DOING RESEARCH
THAT OVER TIME, WE'VE BEEN
REALLY UNCLEAR WITH OUR
BIFURCATED MEDICAL SYSTEM IN
DETERMINING WHETHER THE COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OR THE
MEDICAL MANAGED CARE PLANS ARE
SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR ER VISITS
WHEN A PERSON COMES IN A
PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY. BECAUSE
AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTIES HAVE A
ROLE TO PLAY FOR PEOPLE WITH
SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, AND THE
PLANS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY WITH
PEOPLE WITH MILD AND MODERATE.
UM AND SO IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CARE SERVICES, UM AND ITS NEW
CONTRACTS WITH THE MEDICAL
MANAGED CARE PLANS. UM WANTS TO
REALLY CLEAR THIS UP ONCE AND
FOR ALL AND ENSURE THAT IT'S
CLEAR THAT FOR ANY TYPE OF
MEDICAL EMERGENCY, INCLUDING
PSYCHIATRIC THAT THE MEDICAL
MANAGED CARE PLANS PAY FOR THAT
VISIT. AGAIN. THANK YOU. AND WE
URGE YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU. WE
WILL MOVE TO ANY WITNESSES
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IN THE
ROOM. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ME
TOO. SEEING NONE ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE WILL BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. WE DO HAVE A MOTION
DO PAST PROBES BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FLORA SECONDED
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WALL,
WALDRON. COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE. SECRETARY PLEASE. OH,
YOU MAKE CLOTHES REQUESTER. I
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BUTTER. HIÆN TÔI WALDRON. OLDER
AND I AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY.
AYE ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA I WENDY
CARILLO, WENDY CARILLO, I FLORA.
FLORA IVINS, FONG. IT'S FUNNY, I
HANEY ANY I JOAN SAWYER. JOHN
SAWYER. I MAIENSCHEIN MCCARTHY,
JOE PATTERSON. PATERSON I
RODRIGUEZ SANTIAGO SHOVEL.
TRAVEL I WEBER OR PER AYE. THAT
BILL PASSES WITH THE VOTE OF 12
TO 0. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL
MOVE ON NOW TO. A B 941
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WALDRON.
SITTING IN THE HOT SEAT HERE.
SENATOR WEINER IS EXPECTED TO
JOIN US SHORTLY. IF YOU CAN GET
HERE IN TIME. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AND I REALLY CAN'T
EXPRESS ENOUGH IN WORDS, HOW
MUCH I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF
THE COMMITTEE, UM, ON THE
AMENDMENTS AND THE WORK THAT
JUDY PUT INTO THIS PRIOR TO HER
RETIREMENT. UH SO I DEFINITELY
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AMENDMENTS
AND THE WAY THE BILL IS IN PRINT
CURRENTLY, UM, AS WE KNOW,
CALIFORNIA IS EXPERIENCING A
SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH
RISING RATES OF ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE USE POST
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER,
SUICIDE AND OTHER DEBILITATING
CONDITIONS. MY BILL A B 941
PROPOSES A SOLUTION TO THIS
CRISIS THROUGH THE EXPLORATION
OF THE THERAPEUTIC POSSIBILITIES
OF PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY.
WE NEED THE DATA, THE RESEARCH
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
EXPERTS IN THIS PROMISING FIELD
OF THERAPEUTICS. HAVING THE DATA
AND PROTOCOL RECOMMENDATIONS
WILL HELP US IN LEGISLATING GOOD
POLICY. REGARDING THE USE OF
PSYCHEDELICS IN CLINICAL
SETTINGS. 8941 WILL CREATE A
WORKGROUP. UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
TO STUDY AND RECOMMEND A
FRAMEWORK FOR THE CLINICAL
THERAPEUTIC USE OF PSYCHEDELIC
SUBSTANCES. THESE THERAPIES HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE COUNTLESS
LIVES. WHAT THIS BILL DOES NOT
DO IS DECRIMINALIZE ANY
PSYCHEDELICS. THIS IS A TRUE
STUDY BILL. NO ONE WILL BE
TREATED WITH PSYCHEDELICS UNDER
THIS BILL. NONADDICTIVE NATURAL
PSYCHEDELIC PLANTS AND FUNGI
SHOW SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL IN
ADDRESSING VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS, SUCH AS POST
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER,
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES AND OF LIFE,
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. IT'S
ALSO PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL TO
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES. SUCH
AS OUR VETERANS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS. IN FACT, I FIRST GOT
INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE, HAVING
MET WITH NAVY SEALS REGARDING
THE SUCCESS THAT THEY HAD IN
THESE THERAPIES, BUT THEY HAVE
TO GO ACROSS THE BORDER IN ORDER
TO GET IT. A STUDY BY THE
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION
FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES FOUND
THAT 88% OF PARTICIPANTS WITH
SEVERE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER EXPERIENCE THAT
CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION
AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SCORES
AFTER MDM ASSISTED THERAPY.
ADDITIONALLY 67% OF PARTICIPANTS
IN THE M D M, A STUDY GROUP NO
LONGER MET THE CRITERIA FOR POST
TRAUMATIC STRESS TWO MONTHS
AFTER THE SESSIONS. PROMISING
RESEARCH ON PSYCHEDELIC
SUBSTANCES THEIR NON ADDICTIVE
NATURE. AND THE SUCCESS STORIES
FROM STATES LIKE OREGON AND
COLORADO SHOW THE URGENCY OF
EXPLORING THESE INNOVATIVE
THERAPIES. IT'S TIME FOR
CALIFORNIA TO STEP UP. WHO THE
WORKGROUP 8941 PROFESSIONALLY.
LICENSED PROVIDERS CAN IDENTIFY
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS SUITABLE FOR
PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY.
FACED ON EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND
ABOVE ALL, 8941 IS PROACTIVE AND
FORWARD THINKING APPROACH TO THE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN
CALIFORNIA AND KEY TO UNLOCKING
THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF
PSYCHEDELICS FOR USE IN CLINICAL
SETTINGS. I'M PROUD TO HAVE
SENATOR WIENER HERE TO CO
PRESENT WITH ME. AS HE HAS BEEN
A LEADER IN THIS POLICY SPACE
FOR MANY YEARS. AND I'M VERY
THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE HAS
CREATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. REMEMBER WALDRON. WELCOME
SENATOR WIENER. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. UM SO I'M HERE AND FULL
SUPPORT OF 8941. SOME REMEMBER,
WALDRON AND I ARE PARTNERING
TOGETHER THIS YEAR IN THE SPACE
OF PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY, UM,
PROBABLY LATER THIS MONTH OR
EARLY FEBRUARY OF WILL BE
INTRODUCING A SENATE BILL TO
CREATE A, UM TO LEGALIZE AND
CREATIVE STRUCTURE FOR
PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY. IN
LINE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VETO
MESSAGE OF OUR PSYCHEDELIC
DECRIMINALIZATION LAST YEAR.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR
DIDN'T SIMPLY SAY NO, BUT
INDICATED WHAT HE WOULD SAY YES
TO WHICH WAS THIRD THERAPEUTIC
FOCUS, BILL, SO WE'RE GOING TO
INTRODUCE THAT BILL. REMEMBER
WALDRON AND I WILL BE PARTNERING
ON THAT. UH AND WE WOULD ASK
THAT YOU SUPPORT ADVANCING THIS
BILL TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES? IN SUPPORT. MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS, ANTHONY MOLINA
WITH NEW APPROACH ADVOCACY HERE
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, AND WE
CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH SOME REMEMBER
WALDRON, SENATOR WIDER ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THERE ANY PRIMARY
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION IN THE
HEARING ROOM. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES WHO ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION SEEING?
NONE WILL BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CARILLO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THAT
POSITION. CONGRATULATIONS. UM TO
THE SENATOR IN THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER? I WANNA JUST SAY I
APPLAUD YOUR TENACITY AND
COURAGE IN CONTINUING TO BRING
THIS BILL FORWARD. I THINK THE
INTENTION OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO MOVE FORWARD IS COMPASSIONATE
TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS. AND I
STILL REMEMBER THE, UM TESTIMONY
BY THE 911 SEPTEMBER 11TH
FIREFIGHTERS THAT CAME FROM NEW
YORK AND OTHER PLACES. UM TO
TESTIFY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW
SOME SUBSTANCES SUBSTANCES HAVE
HELPED THROUGH PTSD. MY CONCERN
THEN AND MY CONCERN NOW AND I'M
GLAD THAT YOU'RE DOING THE
WORKING GROUP. HAS ALWAYS BEEN
THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUBSTANCES.
PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE A
PRIORITY TO ALL OF US AS THE
STATE EXPERIENCES A HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS AND FENTANYL CRISIS
. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CREATING INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS FOR SOME OF OUR
BIGGEST ISSUES RELATED TO MENTAL
HEALTH. AND SO AND HOW SOME
SUBSTANCES CAN BE HELPFUL AND
SUPPORTIVE IN THAT MY CONCERN IS
JUST SIMPLY ON THE MEDICAL
PERSONNEL NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO
DO THESE TREATMENTS AS WELL AS
ENSURING THAT THE PUBLIC STREETS
SALE OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES ISN'T
HARMFUL TO INDIVIDUALS. UM AND
THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR QUOTE UNQUOTE
FOR THERE TO BE MORE DRUGS ON
THE STREET. UH BUT THERE WERE
ACTUALLY CREATING THE CLINICAL
APPROACH IS NECESSARY FOR SOME
HALLUCINOGENIC SO I'M I'M
HEALTHY TO HELP SUPPORT THE
CONVERSATION TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND I
KNOW IT'S A CONCERN SHARED BY
MANY OTHERS. IT'S UNTIL WE HAVE
THAT PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT
UNLOCK UNTIL WE HAVE THE MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS BEHIND IT,
SUPPORTING IT UNTIL WE HAVE THE
UM LEGALIZED SALE OF CERTAIN
PRODUCTS, THEN IT'S STILL GOING
TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE
FORWARD. SO I APPLAUD YOUR
COURAGE AND THE COMMITMENT AND
THE INTENT TO SUPPORT AND HELP
INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. BUT I WORRY
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT.
UM IN THE OVERALL CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. UM, JUST COMMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT,
BECAUSE IT IS A CONCERN FOR ALL
OF US. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THIS BILL WILL AUTHORIZE
THIS WORKGROUP TO DO IS LOOK AT
WHO ARE THE FOLKS IN THE
CLINICAL SETTINGS THAT WOULD BE
LICENSED TO DO THE THERAPEUTIC
STUDIES? WHAT TYPE OF LICENSES
NEEDED? UM SO THAT WE CAN BE
SURE THAT THE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE
IN THIS ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE
HANDS ON CLINICAL, THEIR
THERAPIES. UM SO THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'VE HAD TO GO UP AGAINST, AS
YOU KNOW, WE WORK THROUGH THESE
ISSUES IS WHERE IS THE DATA ON
THIS? WHEREAS THE RESEARCH
ANYTHING THAT'S DOCUMENTED AND I
THINK WHAT WE NEED IS A
FOUNDATION IS TO GET ALL OF THAT
PUT TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. SO
THIS WORKGROUP WOULD BE
COMPRISED OF FOLKS WHO ARE
WORKING IN THE CLINICAL SETTINGS
. THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED WITH
THE USE OF THESE TYPE OF
THERAPIES, OR AT LEAST THAT THE
DRUGS THEMSELVES. THEY'RE ALL
NATURAL. UM. TO ALLOW FOR THE
BEST POLICY DECISIONS BY US.
IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US. WE'RE
NOT THE DOCTORS AND THE
CLINICIANS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
SO BRINGING TOGETHER THE
RESEARCHERS AND POLICY MAKERS IS
THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THE
RESULTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
ACHIEVE. AND TO HELP US
HOPEFULLY SAVE LIVES IN THAT, UM
AND THE GOAL IS TO DO THIS IN A
CLINICAL SETTING. SO IT WON'T
THIS BILL, AS I SAID, DOESN'T
DECRIMINALIZE ANYTHING OR
PUTTING THINGS OUT THERE. IT'S
REALLY A WAY TO GET THE DATA,
GET THE INFORMATION AND BRING IT
BACK TO US AS THE POLICY MAKERS
SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE BEST DECISION. DR WEBBER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
UM BEFORE I GO TO WHAT I WAS
GONNA ASK. I JUST WANT TO
PIGGYBACK OFF OF SOMETHING YOU
JUST SAID. YOU SAID THIS IS
GOING TO BE DONE IN A CLINICAL
SETTING. WHAT CLINICAL SETTING?
ARE YOU REFERRING TO? SO THIS
THIS WILL NOT DO ANY OF THAT.
THIS JUST IS THE RESEARCH PART
OF IT TO COME UP WITH THOSE, UM
WHAT IS THE BEST CLINICAL
SETTING FOR IT? WHERE WOULD THIS
OCCUR? WHAT WOULD THE STANDARDS
BE? FOR WHOEVER THE CLINICIAN
IS, THAT WOULD BE DOING IT. YOU
KNOW, WHAT WOULD THE EDUCATION
LEVELS BE ALL OF THOSE THINGS?
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE
THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE
DOING IT, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN
THIS COUNTRY THERE. THEY EITHER
COME FROM HERE AND GO OVER THE
BORDER TO DO IT OR THEY'RE IN
GERMANY. BECAUSE IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
HERE OR IS ALLOWED IN THE UNITED
STATES AT THIS POINT, SO THIS
WORKGROUP WILL BE STUDYING THAT
ISSUE AND BRINGING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO US, SO I
GUESS I'M STILL CONFUSED. JUST
MAYBE WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT
YOU'RE USING, BECAUSE WHEN I
THINK OF CLINIC WHEN I THINK OF
TRIALS I'M THINKING OF, YOU KNOW
PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY SIGN UP FOR
CLINICAL TRIALS. YOU HAVE THOSE
THAT ARE TESTED THAT YOU
COMPARED TO THOSE THAT ARE
UNTESTED. YOU MONITOR THEM FOR A
WHILE. BUT THIS WORKGROUP ISN'T
GOING TO HAVE THAT SO WHAT WHAT
EXACTLY IS IT THAT THEY'LL BE
RESEARCHING TO CREATE TO BRING
FORTH TO THE LEGISLATURE IN
2026? I THINK YEAH, SO THERE ARE
, UM, STUDIES OUT THERE, BUT
THEY'RE KIND OF. RANDOM AND
THEY'RE OUT THERE. WE HAVE TO
BRING THEM ALL TO ONE PLACE LIKE
THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY
ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC
STUDIES HAD DONE A STUDY. UM
RECENTLY REGARDING PTSD. AND YOU
KNOW, SO WE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION. BUT THERE ARE ALSO
PEOPLE AS I MENTIONED THE NAVY
SEALS AND THOSE WHO ARE GETTING
THESE THERAPY. THERAPEUTIC
REMEDIES, UM, ADMINISTERED TO
THEM NOW AND SHOWING RESULTS AND
IT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN BRING UH,
WHAT THOSE GROUPS HAVE PUT
TOGETHER INTO THIS ONE WORK
GROUP SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE
BEST SOURCE OF, UM,
RECOMMENDATION TO US AS WE MOVE
FORWARD. UM THERE'S BEEN SOME
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS WITH IT
. AND IN ORDER FOR US TO. TO BE
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
THERAPIES. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS
DATA. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
KNOWLEDGE OF HOW CAN BEST BE
ADMINISTERED? UM BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UM, COME
FORWARD AND SAID THAT AS A SELF
THEM HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT, UH,
PEOPLE WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
NOW NO LONGER HAVE THAT. UM AND
THE WAY THEY USE THESE, UH,
THERAPIES TO HELP THEM GO BACK
INTO THE SITUATION AND DEAL WITH
THEIR TRAUMA WITH SOMEONE WHOSE
LICENSE AND EXPERIENCE IS, UH,
REALLY EYE OPENING AND
INNOVATIVE AND YOU KNOW, WE WANT
TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT, AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS THIS BILL DOES.
IT DOESNT AUTHORIZED THE
THERAPEUTIC USE OR ANYTHING AT
ALL. IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT
WHAT THE POTENTIALS ARE TRYING
TO GET THE DATA TO TRY TO GET
THE INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. UM BUT
WITHOUT THAT, WE'RE KIND OF
STILL STUMBLING IN THE DARK A
LITTLE BIT, SO IT'S REALLY THE
FIRST STEP IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW
, LOOK AND SEE THE POTENTIAL AND
I AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN
WITH SENATOR WIENER ABOUT THIS
MANY TIMES AS FAR AS WHEREAS THE
DATA UM, ESPECIALLY IN CERTAIN
PATIENT POPULATIONS, LIKE
PREGNANT PATIENTS, RIGHT, SO,
BUT I THINK SOME OF THE LINGO
THAT YOU WERE SAYING WAS JUST
KIND OF TRIPPING ME UP. UM AND I
GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION IS
SAYING THAT IT WAS IN JUNE OF
2023 THAT THE FDA CAME OUT WITH,
UM THE GUIDELINES FOR CLINICAL
TRIALS. IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE
DATA? THE EVIDENCE BASED
SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT WE USE. IN
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. UM. BY
2026 TO SAY YES. WHAT YOU'VE
DONE IN THIS WORK GROUP IS
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ADOPT
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. AND ARE WE
ALSO ANTICIPATING THAT BY 2026?
THAT THE FDA WOULD HAVE COME OUT
AND APPROVED THESE MEDICATIONS
AT THE SAME TIME. SO I THINK
THERE ARE TWO THINGS HERE THERE
IS FEDERALLY FDA APPROVED
MEDICINES SPECIFIC MEDICINES FOR
SPECIFIC PURPOSES, AND THAT IS
ON THE TRACK THAT IT'S ON. WHICH
IS GOOD. UM, YOU KNOW, THE FDA
HAS YET TO APPROVE ANYTHING
CANNABIS RELATED FOR, UM FOR
MEDICINE. SO I'M HOPING THAT
THAT WILL HAPPEN. BUT THIS IS A
COMPLEMENTARY TRACK. IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE USING PSYCHEDELICS UNDER
THE SUPERVISION OF A
PROFESSIONAL LIKE A THERAPIST,
WHICH THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT
RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE ARE
PLANNING TO DO WITH THE SENATE
BILL IS TO BRING TO TRY TO
ACTUALLY CREATE THAT STRUCTURE.
UM IN TERMS OF THAT THERAPEUTIC
USE. IT WON'T WON'T. IT DOESN'T
NEED TO BE A DOCTOR SITUATION
THAT BECOMES WITH PHYSICIANS AND
PRESCRIBING THAT WILL BE DRIVEN
BY THE BY THE FDA. BUT IN TERMS
OF HAVING A THERAPEUTIC SETTING,
WHICH AGAIN IS HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW, PEOPLE ARE THERE ARE SOME
VERY TALENTED THERAPISTS OUT
THERE THERE IN THE SHADOWS RIGHT
NOW. BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT
THEM OUT OF THE SHADOWS, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. SO
NONE OF THIS IS THE PERFECT WAY
THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IT AND
THE PERFECT RATIONAL WORLD WHERE
WE WOULD PROBABLY NEVER HAVE
BANNED THESE SUBSTANCES IN THE
FIRST PLACE, AND WE WOULD NOT
HAVE SHUT DOWN THE RESEARCH 50
YEARS AGO. UM BUT WE'RE DOING IT
IN, UH, AND YOU KNOW CALIFORNIA
WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BLESS IT.
WE'VE LEARNED IN THE PAST THAT
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST
WAY TO GO. WE ARE ROOTING FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET IT
TOGETHER AND FOR THE FDA TO
APPROVE THESE THERAPIES, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR FOLKS INCLUDING
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO ARE
SUFFERING HAVE ACCESS NOT IN THE
SHADOWS BUT IN THE SUNLIGHT TO
THERAPIES THAT AS AS YOU'LL
RECALL FROM THE 911 FIREFIGHTER
WHO'S HERE IS LITERALLY SAVING
PEOPLE'S LIVES AND STOPPING THEM
FROM KILLING THEMSELVES. YES AND
I AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I GUESS
MY CONCERN IS, UM WHAT YOU KNOW
YOU TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. UM NO.
PHYSICIANS DON'T NECESSARILY
HAVE TO PRESCRIBE THESE
MEDICATIONS OR EVEN NECESSARILY
BE IN THIS SPACE. HOWEVER YOU DO
NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF
STUDIES THAT SHOW ITS
EFFECTIVENESS AND SIDE EFFECTS
AND WHO SHOULD NOT BE AND
POTENTIAL LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES
. AND SO, UM, I THINK ONCE AGAIN
MY CONCERN IN THIS SPACE IS
WE'RE PUTTING A GROUP OF PEOPLE
TOGETHER TO DO A STUDY WHICH IS
GREAT. BUT WHAT IS THE MATERIAL
THAT THEY WILL BE STUDYING FROM
AND HOW VALID IS THAT MATERIAL
THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT? SO JUST
OPERATING FROM THE BASELINE
TODAY? SO TODAY, IF YOU WERE,
LET'S SAY YOU WERE PREGNANT
INDIVIDUAL WHO SAYS I SOMEONE
TOLD ME THAT I MIGHT BENEFIT
FROM USING MUSHROOMS. WHAT DO
YOU DO TODAY? YOU GO ON THE
INTERNET. YOU LOOK IT UP. YOU
HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU KNOW SOMEONE
WHO HOPEFULLY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT, AND THEN YOU SORT
OF FIGURE IT OUT, AND IT MAY BE
AWESOME. OR IT MAY NOT BE. UM
WELL, I THINK WE WANT TO GET TO
A POINT WHERE IN CALIFORNIA YOU
CAN HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY
CERTIFIED BY THE STATE. AS
INDIVIDUALS WHO KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO THAT
YOU CAN SAY OH, I CAN GO TO THIS
PERSON STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS
SAID THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE
TRAINING AND HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT THEY NEED AND I CAN ASK
THEM, UM I HAVE THIS PARTICULAR
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. WILL
THIS BE HELPFUL OR HARMFUL TO
ME? I AM PREGNANT. WILL THIS BE
HELPFUL OR HARMFUL? AND THAT
COMPARED TO WHERE WE ARE NOW,
WHEREAS YOU HAVE NO ONE THAT YOU
CAN KNOW, FOR SURE IS THE RIGHT
PERSON. I THINK THAT IS A MARKET
IMPROVEMENT. I THINK THAT'S
WHERE WE WANT TO GO AGAIN. I'VE
LOOKED AT WHAT DATA ARE WE
LOOKING AT? AND WHAT IS THE
VALIDITY OF THAT DATA? UM WHERE
THESE ACTUALLY, UM YOU KNOW,
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS OR
ARE OR IS IT ALL ANECDOTAL? A
STORIES FROM INDIVIDUALS AND WE
DON'T HAVE THE STORIES FROM
PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAD NEGATIVE
SIDE EFFECTS OR LONG TERM
CONSEQUENCES. AND SO, UM, YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU CAN'T
CONTROL WHAT EVERYBODY DOES. BUT
WHEN THE STATE SAYS IT'S OKAY TO
DO IT, I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE
ASSUME AT THAT POINT THAT IT IS
SAFE. AND SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST FOR ME,
UM WHEN I'M LOOKING AT
SOMETHING, AND WHEN I'M
SUPPORTING SOMETHING WHERE IS
THE DATA? HEALTH WISE? AND
THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING WHAT THIS
GROUP WHICH I THINK IS GREAT.
BUT WHAT? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO
BE LOOKING AT? WHAT KIND OF
STUDIES ARE THEY GOING TO BE
EVALUATING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
FACT THAT THE REGULATIONS OR THE
GUIDELINES OF HOW THESE CLINICAL
TRIALS SHOULD BE DONE? JUST CAME
OUT IN JUNE OF 2023. I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT THE GROUP WOULD BE
MADE UP OF RESEARCH SCIENTISTS
WITH EXPERTS WITH EXPERTISE IN
CLINICAL STUDIES AND DRUG
APPROVAL PROCESS UNDER THE F D,
A AS WELL AS UNIVERSITY
RESEARCHERS WITH EXPERTISE IN
PSYCHEDELICS. UM YOU KNOW, I AS
A LEGISLATOR CAN'T SPEAK TO
WHERE THE STUDIES ARE ANYTHING
BUT THESE FOLKS THAT WE WANT TO
PUT ON THIS, THIS WORKGROUP
WOULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT
WHAT STUDIES ARE OUT THERE. UM
AS WELL AS PERSONS WITH
EXPERTISE IN PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY
, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
DRUG POLICY. HARM REDUCTION.
USED DRUG EDUCATION AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT FOLKS. WOULD ALL BE
IN THIS WORKGROUP BECAUSE IT IS
IMPORTANT. WE NEED THE STUDIES.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. WE
NEED TO STUDIES. WE NEED THE
RESEARCH. IT'S IT WOULD REALLY
BE DIFFICULT FOR US AS
POLICYMAKERS TO MOVE FORWARD
WITHOUT THOSE STUDIES, SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
WITH THIS AND JUST TO BE CLEAR
THERE. THERE ARE ALREADY A
NUMBER OF PEER REVIEWED STUDIES
AND PLACES LIKE THE NEW ENGLAND
JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. SO I WANT
TO BE. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO
WALK AWAY THINKING THERE ARE NO
SCIENTIFIC PERIOD. YOU CITIES
THERE ARE THE FDA HAS ITS OWN
TYPE OF STUDY IN TERMS OF
APPROVAL OF ACTUAL
PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTIONS,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE
AREN'T EXISTING STUDIES. THERE
ARE THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANY
OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? SOMETHING MURATSUCHI
AVO. JUST UM SO THE GUIDELINES
THAT JUST CAME OUT IN JUNE, DO
YOU? DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE OR
ANY INFORMATION ON IF THERE ARE
STUDIES PLANNED. I MEAN FROM
THOSE GUIDELINES, OR I MEAN
BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, 2.5 YEARS
FROM NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE
COULD PROBABLY BE A STUDY THAT
HAPPENS OR MULTIPLE STUDIES THAT
HAPPEN. AND NOW THAT THERE'S
GUIDELINES THAT MAKES IT A
LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO
DO THAT. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF
YOU HAVE ANY UPDATED INFORMATION
ON WHERE THAT'S GOING. I'LL JUST
START OFF AND THEN THE SENATE,
UM OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD UPON
THAT, UM WE AND AS THE GOVERNOR
ALSO INDICATED, WE NEED THE
FRAMEWORK IN ORDER TO MOVE
FORWARD. SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
THOSE GUIDELINES. WE NEED TO
MAKE THEM, UH, WORK WITH THE
TYPES OF POLICIES THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO, AND THAT'S WHY WE
WANT TO BRING THE EXPERTS
TOGETHER. TO ACTUALLY BUILD UPON
WHAT THAT THOSE GUIDELINES WERE.
AND SO THERE ARE GROUPS THAT
HAVE BEEN OR THAT HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPING LIKE A DOG BASED, UM,
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS FOR
YEARS. UM AND THOSE WILL BE
THOSE ARE HAVE BEEN IN PROCESS.
THEY NOW HAVE THE STRUCTURE FROM
THE FDA. AND SO THAT WILL BE
MOVING. FORWARD AND THAT'S GREAT
. SO AT SOME POINT, I DON'T KNOW
WHEN. AT SOME POINT, THAT WILL
MEAN THAT PHYSICIANS WILL BE
ABLE TO WRITE A PRESCRIPTION OF
SPECIFIC PHARMACEUTICAL FOR A
SPECIFIC CONDITION. UH AS I WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS
REALLY A PARALLEL TRACK TO THAT.
BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SOME
SORT OF THERAPIST. MOST LIKELY,
AND THIS WILL BE IN THE SENATE
BILL, UM, IN A SOMETHING
CERTIFIED BY THE STATE BEING
ABLE TO USE A PRODUCT AND A SAFE
CONTROLLED SETTING, NOT ON THEIR
OWN. UM AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT
WILL NOT BE DEPENDENT ON THE FDA
APPROVING A PARTICULAR PRODUCT.
THAT MAY BE THE END GOAL AND I
HOPE I HOPE WE GET THERE. BUT
THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE WHO THEY
MAY NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE
THEY NEED TO HAVE A PHYSICIAN
OVERSEEING EVERY ASPECT OF IT.
THEY CAN DO IT WITH A THERAPIST,
AND THAT'S BEEN WORKING WELL FOR
A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR DECADES. UM
AND WE WANT TO TAKE IT OUT OF
THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE
SUNLIGHT AND UM. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE THIS. AND I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING SPILL
FORWARD. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW,
AT THE END OF THE DAY I DID NOT
SUPPORT SENATOR WIENERS BILL
LAST TIME, THOUGH, THE VETERANS
WHO CAME TO HAVE MY YOU KNOW,
LOBBY IN MY OFFICE FILLED WITH
VETERANS WITH INCREDIBLY
POWERFUL STORIES THAT MOVED ME
TO TEARS ABOUT HOW IT REALLY
MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR THEM, BUT
I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS. STILL REMAINING
AROUND THIS AROUND. EXACTLY WHAT
? YOU KNOW THIS BILL IS GETTING
TOO. WHO CAN, UM, PRESCRIBE
THIS? ADMINISTER IT. TAKE PEOPLE
THROUGH IT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS
LIKE IT'S AN IN VARIANT
INTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, RIGHT
WHERE YOU NEED TO BE WITH
SOMEONE THAT YOU TRUST TO HELP
GUIDE YOU THROUGH THAT TO GET TO
THE OTHER SIDE RIGHT AND TO GET
PAST PTSD OR WHATEVER IT IS, YOU
KNOW THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE WORKING
THROUGH. UM AND SO I THINK THAT
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP
OF THAT PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT
WHO'S REALLY QUALIFIED. WHAT ARE
THE GUIDELINES? WHAT UM, YOU
KNOW, IS THERE A CERTIFICATION
OR ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE
IN A REALLY THERAPEUTIC AND SAFE
AND SUPPORTIVE WAY. UM SO I I'M
HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT TODAY
BECAUSE OF THAT, AND I KNOW, UM,
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT
THERE'S CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AROUND. YOU
KNOW, OTHER POLICY BEYOND THIS,
BUT I THINK YOU KNOW, DELVING
INTO FIGURING OUT HOW THIS CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW IT
WHEN PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME
STORIES OF YOU KNOW, GOING TO
THERAPY FOR YEARS AND THEN GOING
TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS
EXPERIENCE OVER A WEEKEND AND
THEIR LIVES ARE COMPLETELY
CHANGED. UM IT YOU KNOW WHEN
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, AND WE
SEE THE HIGH RATE OF SUICIDE
AMONG VETERANS SPECIFICALLY IS
THE CHAIR OF THE MILITARY AND
VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. UM
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THAT SERIOUSLY, AND YOU HAVE TO
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY THAT THIS IS
CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES. UM IN A
REALLY PROFOUND AND IMPORTANT
WAY SO THAT THEY CAN BE HEALTHY
AND THRIVE. UM AND NOT TO
MENTION YOU KNOW STORIES OF HOW
THEIR FAMILIES WERE BEING
IMPACTED RIGHT WHEN PEOPLE ARE
DEALING WITH UM, YOU KNOW,
ALCOHOL ADDICTION AND OTHER
THINGS THAT THEY WERE USING TO
KIND OF DEAL WITH THE PTSD THAT
THEY WERE STRUGGLING WITH, AND
ALL OF THAT WENT AWAY WHEN THEY
WENT THROUGH THESE TREATMENTS,
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST THANK YOU FOR
CONTINUING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
THE WIGGLE ROOM IS AND WAYS TO
MOVE THIS ISSUE FORWARD BECAUSE
I KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY.
IT'S REALLY THE GOAL OF HELPING
PEOPLE. WITH THAT. I JUST WANT
TO REMIND US THAT THIS IS REALLY
VERY MUCH RESPONSIVE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE ABOUT
WHAT NEEDED TO BE NEXT STEP, SO
AND I APPRECIATE OUR VICE CHAIR
WALDRON FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND SENATOR WIENER FOR
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO DO
THIS. I THINK THE STRATEGY OF
CONVENING A WORKGROUP TO REALLY
ESTABLISH A GOVERNING FRAMEWORK.
FIRST PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED
THERAPY IS VERY IN KEEPING WITH
THE GOALS OF ENSURING THAT WE
HAVE A MULTITUDE OF THERAPIES
AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIANS. UM
AND WITH THAT, I WILL ASK IF
YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE AND THEN I
WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS AND
DISCUSSION AND BECAUSE WE HAVE
SO MANY QUESTIONS IN DISCUSSIONS
WE REALLY NEED TO BRING TOGETHER
EXPERTS IN THE FIELD TO HELP US
AS WE NAVIGATE THIS ISSUE. WE
DON'T WANT TO IGNORE IT. THE
POTENTIAL COULD BE GREAT. UM AS
WE'VE SEEN, IT HAS HELPED A LOT
OF PEOPLE. UM AND WHEN YOU HEAR
THOSE STORIES, THEY ARE VERY
MOVING. UM AND YOU KNOW, SAVING
A LIFE IS WORTH IT. SO I REALLY
WOULD HOPE FOR YOUR I VOTE AND
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU DO HAVE A MOTION
TO DO PAST TWO APPROPRIATIONS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HANEY MOVES.
FAMILY UH, MAJORITY LEADER
AGUIAR-CURRY SECONDS. WITH THAT
SECRETARY. CALL THE ROLL,
PLEASE. ANSWER. I WANT TO I
WALDRON. ALTER NIAGARA CURRY.
EDGAR CREE I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA.
I'M WENDY CARILLO. CARILLO, I
FLORA. LARA. I'VE BEEN STRONG.
HAITI. ANY I JOHN SAWYER AND
SAWYER. I MAIENSCHEIN
MAIENSCHEIN NOT VOTING. MCCARTY
MCCARTHY I, JOE PATTERSON.
PATERSON, NOT VOTING RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ NOT VOTING. SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO EYESHADOW. VÚI WEBER.
THANK YOU. THAT BILL PASSES WITH
THE VOTE OF 11 TO 0. THANK YOU,
VICE CHAIR. AT THIS TIME WE'VE
DISPENSED WITH THE REVIEW OF THE
HEARING OF ALL OF OUR BILLS, AND
WE WILL ALLOW FOR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO ADD ON OR CHANGE
VOTES. WE'LL HAVE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS COME TO A MIC AND WE'LL
START WITH A B 1316. ANY ADD ONS
FOR A B 1316. MAIENSCHEIN.
MAIENSCHEIN I MCCARTHY MCCARTHY.
I RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ I
SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO. AYE. NEXT A
B 82. THAT MOTION BUT NOW PASSES
BUILT NOW PASSES WITH 16 TO 0.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO A B 82. LARA.
MAIENSCHEIN MAIENSCHEIN I
MCCARTY MCCARTHY. AYE.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ I SANTIAGO.
SANTIAGO. AYE. 13 0. THAT BILL
NOW PASSES WITH THE VOTE OF 13
TO 0 WILL MOVE ON TO A B 941
WALDRON. THAT'S WANG. WEBER.
THAT BILL STILL PASSES WITH A
VOTE OF 11 TO 0 WITH THAT CAN
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
THANK YOU. SOME OF THEM WERE JOE
SAWYER. SECONDED BY MS
SHARPEVILLE. UH THANKS SO MUCH
FOR OUR VERY FIRST COMMITTEE
WITH ME AS CHAIR OF OUR HEALTH
COMMITTEE HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.