GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WILL START
OUR ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
AT 130. AS PER THE SCHEDULED
START TIME FOR THIS HEARING.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A STATEMENT ON PROVIDING
TESTIMONY AT THIS HEARING, ALL
WITNESSES WILL BE TESTIFYING IN
PERSON. WE ALLOW TWO MAIN
WITNESSES FOR A MAXIMUM OF TWO
MINUTES EACH. ADDITIONAL
TESTIMONY WILL ALSO BE IN PERSON
AND LIMITED TO NAME, POSITION,
AND ORGANIZATION. IF YOU
REPRESENT ONE ON CONSENT. TODAY
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING BILLS
PROPOSED FOR TODAY'S HEARING.
ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE MAY
REMOVE A BILL FROM CONSENT ITEM
TWO SB 908. CORTESE. ITEM SIX SB
1257 BLAKE SPEER. ITEM EIGHT SB
1428 ATKINS. ITEM NINE SB 1464
ASHBY. PLEASE NOTE THAT ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WALDRON WILL NOT BE
AVAILABLE TODAY. AND WITH THAT,
WE HAVE OUR FIRST AUTHOR
AVAILABLE AND WE WILL MOVE TO
OUR FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM
NUMBER ONE SB 294 WIENER. WE
WILL START AS A SUBCOMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. PLEASE
GO AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I'M HERE
TODAY TO PRESENT SENATE BILL
294, AND WE'LL BE TAKING
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS ASKED FOR
BY THE COMMITTEE, AND WE ALSO
HAVE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
REQUESTED BY DMHC AND CDI, OUR
COLLEAGUES, WE KNOW THAT OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND FIRST OF
ALL, I SHOULD SAY THANK YOU TO
THE ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE
FOR PASSING A SIMILAR VERSION OF
THIS BILL LAST YEAR RELATING TO
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, WE KNOW
THAT THE RATE OF MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES AMONG OUR YOUTH HAS
REACHED, CRISIS LEVELS. AND
TODAY, WITH SENATE BILL 294, WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A
TANGIBLE STEP TO INCREASE THE
ABILITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO
ACCESS, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT,
AND SPECIFICALLY, SB 294
REQUIRES THAT ALL LIFE
THREATENING MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT DENIALS BY HEALTH
PLANS, FOR FOLKS UNDER THE AGE
OF 26, ORTEZ MATICALLY TRIGGER
AN INDEPENDENT MEDICAL REVIEW,
OR EMR, FOR DENIALS BY HEALTH
PLANS OF NON-LIFE THREATENING
CONDITIONS, IT WILL IT WILL
TRIGGER AN AUTOMATIC GRIEVANCE
PROCESS, THEN FOLLOWED BY AN
EMR. IF THE GRIEVANCE IS, IF THE
DENIAL IS UPHELD AFTER THE
GRIEVANCE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS
BILL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE INSURANCE, CAN ACTUALLY
GET MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
COVERED, FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE
KNOW THAT OUR, UNFORTUNATELY,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A LONG
HISTORY OF HEALTH PLANS, MAKING
IT ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. OTHER
THAN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
THIS LEGISLATURE HAS TAKEN
STRONG STEPS IN RECENT YEARS
AROUND MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND
TIMELY ACCESS. AND I'M REALLY
PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO DO TOGETHER, AND SB
294 WILL BUILD ON THAT WORK BY,
ENSURING THAT WHEN A DENIAL
HAPPENS FOR A YOUNG PERSON,
THAT, AN EMR AUTOMATICALLY
HAPPENS, WE KNOW THAT WHEN
IMAGES ARE REQUESTED, THEY
OVERWHELMINGLY OVER WILL
REINSTATE THE COVERAGE AND
OVERTURN THE HEALTH PLANS.
DENIAL OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE REQUESTING
IMAGES, THEY OVERWHELMINGLY ARE
DOING SO IN ENGLISH, SO WHAT
THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE ARE
VARIOUS POPULATIONS THAT SIMPLY
DO NOT KNOW, THAT THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO HAVE A, DO A
GRIEVANCE AND THEN AN EMR, OR
THEY ARE JUST BOXED OUT OF THAT
PROCESS FOR ONE REASON OR
ANOTHER. AND SO THIS BILL WILL
ALLOW US TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE
HAS ACCESS TO THE EMR, PROCESS,
WHICH WE KNOW WILL EXPAND ACCESS
TO MENTAL HEALTH, TREATMENT, SO
WITH THAT, I HAVE TWO WITNESSES
TESTIFY WITH ME TODAY, DOCTOR
TERESA FRAUSTO, AN MD AND
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRY, AND COLLEEN CORRIGAN
WITH CHILDREN, NOW ONE OF OUR
SPONSORS. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOU'LL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
DOCTOR TERESA FRAUSTO. I AM THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRY, A STATEWIDE UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATION THAT CONSISTS OF
FOUR REGIONAL COUNCILS OF CHILD
ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRISTS, YOUTH
WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS,
ESPECIALLY CHILDREN OF COLOR,
LGBTQ AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
, OFTEN EXPERIENCE OVERWHELMING
STIGMA, SHAME AND DISCRIMINATION
, WHICH LEADS TO MARGINALIZATION
AND LACK OF CARE. THE COVID
PANDEMIC ONLY EXACERBATED MENTAL
ILLNESS AMONG OUR YOUTH, AND
HEALTH PLANS CONTINUE TO DENY
CARE AT AN ALARMING RATE.
NAVIGATING OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM TO ACCESS CARE IS ALREADY
CHALLENGING ENOUGH. WITHOUT THE
DIFFICULTY OF FILING A GRIEVANCE
AND APPEALING A DENIAL THROUGH
THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL REVIEW
PROCESS. AS A PHYSICIAN AND
PATIENT ADVOCATE WITH OVER 33
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, I HAVE
WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH, JUVENILE
DETENTIONS, AND PSYCHIATRIC
HOSPITALS AND HAVE WITNESSED
FIRSTHAND THE MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS. OUR YOUTH ARE FACING AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE SERVICES
FOR OUR KIDS. WHEN HEALTH PLANS
SAY IT IS NOT MEDICALLY
NECESSARY OR NOT AN EMERGENCY,
OUR YOUTH END UP IN THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT,
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AND
JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS,
MENTAL ILLNESS IS KILLING OUR
YOUTH. SUICIDE IS THE SECOND
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN YOUTH.
BETWEEN 15 AND 24 YEARS OLD, AND
SUICIDE RATES AMONG OUR BLACK
YOUTH HAVE DOUBLED. OUR
PROVIDERS KNOW THAT WHEN A CHILD
COMES TO THEM STRUGGLING WITH
ANXIETY, ADHD, DEPRESSION,
BIPOLAR OR ANY PSYCHOTIC
DISORDER, THEY WORK TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR ILLNESS AND
PRESCRIBE CULTURALLY COMPETENT
CARE. IT IS EXTREMELY
FRUSTRATING WHEN THEIR PLANS
DENY SUCH CARE UNDER OFTEN UNDER
THE GUISE OF MEDICAL NECESSITY
DISPUTES. SENATE BILL 294 WOULD
PUT THE POWER BACK IN THE HANDS
OF PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS TO
DECIDE WHAT KIND OF CARE IS
RIGHT FOR THEM, WITHOUT PLACING
THE BURDEN ON FAMILIES TO FIGHT
THE SYSTEM. FOR THESE REASONS, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE ON THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
COLLEEN CORRIGAN, AND I'M A
HEALTH POLICY ASSOCIATE WITH
CHILDREN NOW, A CO-SPONSOR OF
THE BILL, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY
OF SANTA CLARA, OUR ORGANIZATION
HAS HEARD FROM COUNTLESS PARENTS
OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE
DIFFICULTIES IN NAVIGATING THE
INDEPENDENT MEDICAL REVIEW
PROCESS. WHILE IMAGES ARE AN
IMPORTANT CONSUMER PROTECTION,
IT'S DIFFICULT TO ACCESS FOR
FAMILIES WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS
NOT ENGLISH AND WHO MAY NOT HAVE
THE HEALTH, LITERACY, OR TIME TO
SUBMIT A GRIEVANCE OR AN EMR. WE
KNOW THAT MEDICARE CONSUMERS
HAVE MORE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE
FOR DENIALS, WHICH INCLUDE FIVE
LEVELS OF APPEALS AND AUTOMATIC
REVIEW. AFTER THE ADVERSE
DETERMINATION BY A PLAN,
CALIFORNIA'S YOUTH ARE EQUALLY
VULNERABLE TO THE MENTAL ILLNESS
AND DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE AT
GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY
DESPERATELY NEED. CHILDREN ARE
THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE LONG
TERM EFFECTS OF UNDIAGNOSED AND
UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS, WHICH
INCLUDE UNNECESSARY DISABILITY,
HOMELESSNESS, INAPPROPRIATE
INCARCERATION, AND SUICIDE. SB
294 AIMS TO PROTECT MORE
CHILDREN FROM FALLING THROUGH
OUR SAFETY NETS. SB 855 WAS
SIGNED INTO LAW TO ENSURE MENTAL
HEALTH PARITY BY REQUIRING PLANS
TO COVER MEDICALLY NECESSARY
SERVICES. HOWEVER, DATA SHOW
THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES
STILL REGULARLY DENY CLAIMS, AND
THIS BILL WILL SUPPORT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY INTENDED BY SB
855. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS
ALONE, AN AVERAGE OF 78% OF
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH DENIALS WERE
OVERTURNED BY THE EMR PROCESS.
WE HAVE NO WAY OF ESTIMATING HOW
MANY DENIALS NEVER EVEN MAKE IT
TO THE GRIEVANCE OR EMR PROCESS,
BECAUSE PLANS ARE NOT REQUIRED
TO REPORT THIS DATA WHEN PLANS
DON'T PROVIDE THE CARE THAT
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES END UP PAYING OUT
OF POCKET OR SEEKING CARE FROM
MEDI-CAL AND COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH SYSTEMS AT AN ENORMOUS
COST TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH PLANS
ARE ONLY DENYING THESE
TREATMENTS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM
ALLOWS IT. WE NEED TO ASK FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM PLANS AND
HOW THEY APPROVE AND DENY THIS
LIFE SAVING CARE. OUR TEAM HAS
HAD YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH
HEALTH PLANS, ADVOCATES AND
EXPERTS TO DRAFT LEGISLATION
THAT IS CONSUMER FRIENDLY AND
CONSISTENT WITH EXISTING LAW. WE
MUST ACT NOW TO ADDRESS RACIAL
AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES AND
MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND TOM RENFREE, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG
PROGRAM EXECUTIVES IN SUPPORT,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DYLAN
ELLIOTT, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
PSYCHIATRISTS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. VANESSA KHN, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA PAN ETHNIC HEALTH
NETWORK HERE IN SUPPORT. WHITNEY
FRANCIS WITH THE WESTERN CENTER
ON LAW AND POVERTY IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. LIZZIE KUTSUNA
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT.
THANKS KATIE VAN DINES WITH
HEALTH ACCESS IN CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. MEGAN LOPER, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT ANNIE
THOMAS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES AND SUPPORT.
IVRINDI, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. JEFF NEIL, REPRESENTING THE
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, ALSO IN
SUPPORT JOHN DREBINGER WITH THE
STEINBERG INSTITUTE IN SUPPORT
DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAVID
CAMPOS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY
OF SANTA CLARA, STRONGLY IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MELISSA CORTEZ ON BEHALF OF
AUTISM SPEAKS AND THE COUNCIL OF
AUTISM SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION?
PLEASE TAKE A SEAT. YOU'LL EACH
HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, JED
HAMPTON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH PLANS
HERE. REGRETTABLY IN OPPOSITION
TO SB 294, WE WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE AUTHOR, THE SPONSORS,
THE STAFF, THE COMMITTEE STAFF.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS BILL IN THE LAST YEAR
AND A HALF. SO WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE OPENNESS AND
WILLINGNESS TO HEAR SOME OF OUR
CONCERNS AND SEE IF WE COULD
FIND A PATH FORWARD ON THAT. BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
NOT QUITE FOUND THE PATH FORWARD
JUST YET, WE CERTAINLY
APPRECIATE THE OVERARCHING
INTENT OF THIS GOAL TO ENSURE
THAT OUR ENROLLEES HAVE TIMELY
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE,
HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
THIS BILL CREATES A NEW
BIFURCATED REVIEW PROCESS WHICH
REQUIRES HEALTH PLANS AND
INSURERS TO AUTOMATICALLY REVIEW
ALL YOUTH RELATED MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES. WHEN THE PLAN HAS
ISSUED AN INITIAL DENIAL, DELAY
OR MODIFICATION, WHILE MANY
INITIAL DENIALS OR MODIFICATIONS
CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH A HEALTH
PLANS GRIEVANCE PROCESS, WE DO
BELIEVE THAT IT IS EXCESSIVE TO
REQUIRE THAT EVERY MODIFICATION
OR DENIAL SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY
BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW,
REGARDLESS OF MERIT OR PHYSICIAN
OR ENROLLEE INPUT. THE CURRENT
PROCESS THAT'S LAID OUT IN
STATUTE ENABLES A HEALTH PLAN TO
WORK TOGETHER WITH THE PROVIDER
TO ENSURE THAT THE ENROLLEE GETS
THE CARE THAT THEY NEED QUICKLY,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE SUCCESS OF THESE
GRIEVANCE REVIEWS ARE DEPENDENT
ON THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE
INDIVIDUAL, PATIENT AND THE
PHYSICIAN. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
SB 294 EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS THAT
HEALTH PLANS AND INSURERS
REQUIRE THAT THE PATIENT OR THE
PROVIDER TAKE ANY ACTION TO
INITIATE OR TO CONTINUE THE
GRIEVANCE PROCESSING PROCEDURE.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT
THEIR INVOLVEMENT, THIS
SECONDARY REVIEW PROCESS COULD
ACTUALLY RESULT IN AN INCREASE
IN UNNECESSARY DENIALS. WE ARE
ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL
IMPACTS THAT SB 294 WOULD HAVE
ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE CURRENT
EMR SYSTEM, AUTOMATICALLY
REFERRING DENIALS OR
MODIFICATIONS INTO THE EMR
PROCESS, REGARDLESS OF MERIT,
WILL MOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO A
SIGNIFICANT INFLUX OF CASES SENT
TO EMR, THEREBY COMPROMISING THE
EFFECT OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, WE ALSO HAVE
SOME, ADDITIONAL PRIVACY
CONCERNS WITH THE BILL THAT I
KNOW MY COLLEAGUE WILL ADDRESS
IN HER TESTIMONY. BUT WE WOULD
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE'S BEEN A CONSIDERABLE,
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WORK DONE
IN THIS AREA IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF
THE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED
REGULATIONS AROUND SB EIGHT, 55,
HEALTH PLANS ARE ALSO REQUIRED
TO COVER SERVICES ORIGINATED
FROM 988 CALLS, CARE COURT, AS
WELL AS THE LAUNCHING OF THE
CHILDREN AND YOUTH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH INITIATIVE, WHERE THESE
MANDATES REQUIRE HEALTH PLANS TO
COVER MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES
WITHOUT ANY PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
OR ZERO COST SHARE. SO WE
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE INTENT
THAT THAT THAT THE AUTHOR HAS
PUT FORTH IN THIS BILL. HOWEVER,
WITH THESE CONCERNS, WE ARE
REGRETTABLY OPPOSED TO THE BILL,
BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE
DISCUSSIONS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
STEPHANIE WATKINS, ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPANIES, I WOULD ECHO MANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS. WE HAVE
HAD A REALLY OPEN DIALOG, AND
HAVE SHARED A LOT OF THE
INFORMATION AND THE FINDINGS
WE'VE HAD WITH THE AUTHOR AND
SPONSORS OFFICE AND DO HOPE TO
CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IF
THE BILL MOVES FORWARD TODAY, I
WOULD JUST ECHO WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE SAID ABOUT PRIVACY. WE
ARE CONCERNED THAT SB TWO 94TH
MAY UNINTENTIONALLY VIOLATE
PATIENT PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.
CURRENTLY, THE FEDERAL HEALTH
INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS HIPAA PRIVACY RULES,
EXPRESSLY PROHIBIT COVERED
ENTITIES FROM SHARING
PSYCHOTHERAPY NOTES WITHOUT
DIRECT CONSENT FROM THE
ENROLLEES. PSYCHOTHERAPY NOTES
MAY BE REQUIRED FOR HEALTH PLANS
AND INSURERS TO ADEQUATELY
ASSESS MEDICAL NECESSITY
AUTOMATICALLY REFERRING CASES TO
EMR AND REQUIRING PLANS AND
INSURERS TO PROVIDE CLINICAL
NOTES WITHOUT THE EXPLICIT
AUTHORIZATION OF THE PATIENT.
BUT HEALTH PLANS AND INSURERS IN
AN UNTENABLE POSITION OF EITHER
VIOLATING FEDERAL HIPAA LAWS
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADHERE TO
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS BILL.
TO THAT POINT, THE EXISTING EMR
PROCESS ADDRESSES THOSE CONCERNS
BY REQUIRING AN ENROLLEE TO
EXPRESSLY CONSENT EMR, WE
BELIEVE THAT PIECE OF THE
PROCESS IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING
THE PATIENT FULLY APPRECIATES
THE PRIVACY RIGHTS THE BILL IS
ATTEMPTING TO WAIVE ON THEIR
BEHALF. REGRETTABLY, THE WAY SB
294 PROPOSES TO DEAL WITH THIS
ISSUE DOES NOT GET TO THE CORE
ISSUE. THE STATUTE REQUIRES
PLANS AND INSURERS TO COORDINATE
WITH THE ENROLLEE AND PROVIDER
TO GET A SIGNED EMR APPLICATION,
ALONG WITH MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS
, AFTER THE PLAN HAS ALREADY
SUBMITTED THE REQUEST TO EMR.
WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE INTENT
OF THE AUTHOR AND SPONSOR TO
ADDRESS THE PRIVACY CONCERNS
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED,
ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN A SIGNED
RELEASE AFTER THE INFORMATION
HAS BEEN SUBMITTED DOES NOTHING
TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING
PRIVACY VIOLATIONS. THIS BILL
CREATES THE STATUTE CLEARLY
REQUIRES PLANS AND INSURERS TO
SUBMIT AS A PART OF THE AUTO
REFERRAL, ALL RELEVANT
INFORMATION THAT INFORMED THE
HEALTH PLAN. INSURERS CONCLUSION
TO DENY, MODIFY OR DELAY THE
SERVICE. THIS REQUIREMENT MOST
CERTAINLY WOULD INCLUDE ALL THE
PATIENT'S MEDICAL RECORDS, EVEN
THOSE WITH THE OTHERWISE BE
PROHIBITED WITHOUT DIRECT
CONSENT. FOR THESE REASONS, WE
ARE OPPOSED, BUT DO LOOK FORWARD
TO HAVING CONTINUED
CONVERSATIONS IF THE BILL MOVES
FORWARD TODAY. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION, PLEASE STEP FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JACKIE
ONIS, ON BEHALF OF AMERICA'S
HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS AND
REGRETFUL OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. MACHOWA. SO, I
THINK I WAS DISCUSSING THIS BILL
WITH MY STAFF EARLIER, AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
IT FORWARD, AND I THINK THE
NUMBER THAT THEY SHARED WITH ME
IS THAT IS IT 70% OF, CLAIM
FORMS ARE DENIED OR WHERE DOES
THAT NUMBER COME FROM? DO YOU
KNOW THAT AROUND I THINK IT'S
NIELSEN. YEAH. ARE YOU REFERRING
TO THE NUMBER OF DENIALS THAT
ARE OVERTURNED? THE 78. YEAH,
78. YEAH, 78% OF YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH DENIALS ARE OVERTURNED BY
MÀ OVERTURNED. YEAH. SO I MEAN
THAT TO ME IS A GLARING
BREAKDOWN IN OUR SYSTEM WHEN YOU
HAVE ALMOST 80% OF INITIAL
DENIALS OVERTURNED, AND, AND,
YOU KNOW, I WAS RECENTLY JUST
TALKING WITH A PARENT IN MY
DISTRICT WHO HAS A CHILD WHO'S
STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL
IDEATIONS AND WAS REALLY
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY WERE
SAYING THAT THEIR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER OR INSURANCE WAS
TELLING THEM THAT, THAT THEY
REALLY COULDN'T PROVIDE THEM THE
SERVICES THAT THEY NEEDED, UNTIL
THEY ACTED ON THIS, WHICH AS A
PARENT, BOGGLES MY MIND, SO, SO,
I MEAN, CLEARLY THERE IS A
CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS
TO HAPPEN, WE KNOW WE'RE IN THE
MIDDLE OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
AMONGST OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY.
AND, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M
GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE THIS OUT. IT SOUNDS LIKE,
YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS WILL
STILL GO ON TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S PROTECTIONS THAT ARE
NEEDED AROUND PRIVACY, BUT, BUT
THIS I MEAN, THIS CAN'T CONTINUE
AS IT IS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
SENATOR WIENER, FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. I, ALSO
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD THE
THIS, GO TO TOWARDS THE AGE OF
26 YEARS OLD. WE IN CALIFORNIA
CONSIDER ADOLESCENTS TO GO TO 25
YEARS OLD, THOSE WHO ARE IN
THEIR 20 SOMETHINGS OR JUST FOR
THEIR FIRST TIME, KIND OF OFTEN
ON THEIR OWN AND NEEDING TO
NAVIGATE A VERY COMPLICATED
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. I WOULD LIKE
TO ADDRESS. HAVE YOU ADDRESS, IF
POSSIBLE, THE PRIVACY CONCERNS
THAT THE OPPOSITION RAISED?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND WE
RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. SO FIRST
OF ALL, FOLKS CAN WITHDRAW, THE
EMR. THEY DON'T THEY'RE NOT
FORCED TO GO THROUGH IT. THEY
CAN WITHDRAW IT, IN ADDITION,
AND THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
AND SO THEY'LL HAVE EVERY
ABILITY IF THEY DON'T WANT THEIR
RECORDS TO GO OVER FOR THAT NOT
TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S ALSO THE
CASE THAT IN THE HEALTH
INSURANCE DETERMINATION PROCESS,
MEDICAL RECORDS AND MEDICAL
INFORMATION HAS TO BE KNOWN.
OTHERWISE YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH
THAT PROCESS. SO WE RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE THAT THIS IS GOING TO
SOMEHOW BE A BREACH OF PRIVACY.
AND OF COURSE, EVERYONE IS GOING
TO FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW AT ALL
TIMES. SO I TEND TO AGREE AND
MAYBE CHILDREN NOW MAY HAVE
SOMETHING TO ADD. YEAH, I THINK
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO
THAT IS REGARDING PSYCHOTHERAPY
NOTES WHICH WERE CALLED OUT.
WE'VE SPOKEN TO MANY HIPAA
ATTORNEYS AND IT'S CLEAR THAT
PSYCHOTHERAPY NOTES ARE NOT
REQUIRED FOR THE INITIAL
GRIEVANCE DECISION. AND EVEN IF
THEY WERE, THEY'D BE SEPARATE
FROM THE MEDICAL RECORDS THAT
ARE SHARED DURING THE GRIEVANCE
PROCESS. AND THE EMR APPLICATION
THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED
WITHIN THE 30 DAYS DOES CONFER
CONSENT FOR SHARING MEDICAL
RECORDS. SO IT REALLY CONTRARY
TO THE POINTS, INVOLVES
PROVIDERS AND ENROLLEES AT EVERY
STEP. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT
ENDS THE GENERAL COMMENT. DO I
HAVE A MOTION? OH, WE DON'T HAVE
A QUORUM YET, SO APOLOGIZE FOR
THAT. BUT I, I DID WANT TO
CLARIFY THAT THERE ARE NOT ANY
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS BEING
ACCEPTED BY THIS COMMITTEE, BUT
THAT YOU PLAN TO, HAVE THOSE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, REVIEWED
BY THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
CORRECT. WE WILL BE SUBMITTING
THEM AS AUTHOR AMENDMENTS IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SHOULD
THIS COMMITTEE ADVANCE THE BILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE
THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SAU BY OUR
STAR SENATOR DURAZO SB 1132, WHO
WILL ALSO BE PRESENTING ITEM
NUMBER THREE AND FIVE. YOU COULD
START SENATOR DURAZO WITH YOUR
BILL SB 1132. OKAY THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS. SB
1132 CLARIFIES THE AUTHORITY OF
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICERS TO ENTER
AND INSPECT PRIVATE DETENTION
FACILITIES OPERATING IN OUR
STATE. TODAY. THERE ARE SIX
PRIVATE FACILITIES THAT OPERATE
IN A GRAY AREA UNDER OUR HEALTH
AND SAFETY CODES. AS PUBLIC
OVERSIGHT. HEALTH OVERSIGHT LAWS
DO NOT EXPLICITLY COVER PRIVATE
DETENTION FACILITIES. THESE
PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES ARE
OPERATED BY FOR PROFIT COMPANIES
THAT OFTEN FAIL TO MEET MINIMUM
STANDARDS OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND
SANITATION. RECENT REPORTS FROM
THESE FACILITIES CONTINUE TO
DOCUMENT A PATTERN OF POOR
CONDITIONS, INADEQUATE HEALTH
CARE, AND UNSAFE WORK
CONDITIONS. THIS BILL WILL
ENSURE THAT PRIVATE DETENTION
FACILITIES ARE CLEARLY COVERED
UNDER OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
LAWS, AND THEREFORE OUR COUNTY
HEALTH OFFICIALS CAN ENSURE
MINIMUM STANDARDS IN THESE
FACILITIES, WITH ME TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT IS ANDREA AMAVIZCA
FROM THE CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT
POLICY CENTER. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU. YOU'LL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS. PLEASE PUT YOUR
MICROPHONE ON. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREA
AMAVIZCA, AND I'M THE GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS MANAGER AT THE
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER. CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.
CALIFORNIA HOLDS THE THIRD
LARGEST IMMIGRATION DETENTION
POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY. ALL
SIX ICE DETENTION FACILITIES IN
THE STATE ARE RUN BY FOR PROFIT
PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES, MAKING
THEM PRONE TO A LACK OF
ACCOUNTABILITY. THESE FACILITIES
HAVE A HORRIFIC TRACK RECORD
WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH,
SAFETY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
DETENTION FACILITIES CAN POSE A
PUBLIC HEALTH RISK TO
INDIVIDUALS DETAINED INSIDE.
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK INSIDE, AS
WELL AS FAMILIES WHO VISIT OR
LIVE NEAR THESE FACILITIES. THE
LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS REPORTED
ON INVESTIGATIONS BY CAL OSHA
THAT FOUND WILLFUL AND SERIOUS
HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS IN
PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES,
CITING UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR
INDIVIDUALS DETAINED, INCLUDING
A LACK OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND PROPER TRAINING WHILE
CLEANING THE FACILITY FOR LESS
THAN $1 PER DAY. A 2021 REPORT
BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE FOUND THAT THE ADELANTO
DETENTION FACILITY IN SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY HAD USED A
CHEMICAL AGENT KNOWN AS HDC
NEUTRAL TO SANITIZE SURFACES,
WHICH MANY INDIVIDUALS DETAINED
AT THIS FACILITY REPORTED WAS SO
TOXIC THEY EXPERIENCED
HEADACHES, NAUSEA, NOSEBLEEDS,
FAINTING, BREATHING ISSUES, AND
MORE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF
THE MANY EXAMPLES OF UNSAFE
CONDITIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
VIOLATIONS THAT OCCUR IN THESE
FACILITIES, AND PART OF THE
URGENT NEED FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. SB
1132 CLARIFIES THAT COUNTY
HEALTH OFFICIALS CAN INSPECT THE
HEALTH AND SANITARY CONDITIONS
OF PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES
WHEN DEEMED NECESSARY AND
APPROPRIATE. THE BILL DOES NOT
IMPOSE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE
BILL HAS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM
OVER 50 ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING
THE HEALTH OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA, AND HAS RECEIVED
NO OPPOSITION. I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? KAT
DE BERG WITH THE HEALTH OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. VANESSA KHN, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA PAN ETHNIC
HEALTH NETWORK HERE IN SUPPORT.
HELLO, MOLLY ROBESON WITH
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF
CALIFORNIA. AND SUPPORT JACKIE
JACKIE GONZALEZ, PROUD
CO-SPONSOR FROM IMMIGRANT
DEFENSE ADVOCATES AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ANY OTHER WITNESSES
IN THE ROOM? SEEING NONE, I WILL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
DOCTOR ARAMBULA THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING
ABLE TO WORK ON A PRIVATE
DETENTION FACILITY. WHEN OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED ME TO
CARRY A BILL AS HE WAS MOVING ON
TO HIS OFFICE, AND WANTED TO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD, AS IT'S IMPORTANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
PROVIDING THE HUMAN BEINGS WHO
ARE IN THOSE DETENTION
FACILITIES WITH THE DIGNITY AND
RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'LL MAKE A
MOTION WHEN THE TIME IS
APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS BILL.
SENATOR RUSSO, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR DETENTION
FACILITIES ARE SITUATED IN A WAY
THAT PEOPLE CAN BE TREATED
HUMANELY. THEY SHOULDN'T EXIST
AT ALL, BUT THEY DO, AND WITH
THAT, WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE, WE
WILL MOVE THIS BILL FORWARD. CAN
YOU. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON NOW
TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, SB 1131.
GONZALEZ PRESENTED BY DURAZO.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ON
BEHALF OF SENATOR GONZALEZ, I'M
HERE TO PRESENT SB 1131, WHICH
WILL ENSURE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL
FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES FOR LOW
INCOME CALIFORNIANS ACROSS THE
STATE. SINCE 1997, CALIFORNIA
HAS BEEN PROVIDING FAMILY
PLANNING SERVICES LIKE
CONTRACEPTION, PREGNANCY TESTING
, STI AND HIV TESTING TO LOW
INCOME INDIVIDUALS AT NO COST
THROUGH THE FAMILY PLANNING,
ACCESS CARE AND TREATMENT
PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS FAMILY
PACK. IN ORDER FOR HEALTH CLINIC
TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES IN
THEIR COMMUNITY, THE CLINIC MUST
FIRST BE CERTIFIED BY A
DESIGNATED HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONAL. DESPITE A HEALTH
CARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE, THE
STATE CONTINUES TO LIMIT WHO CAN
CERTIFY CLINICS FOR FAMILY PACT
SERVICES TO ONLY PHYSICIANS,
CERTIFIED MIDWIVES OR CERTIFIED
NURSE PRACTITIONERS. THIS BILL
WILL ADDRESS THE SHORTCOMING BY
CLARIFYING THAT ONE A SITE
CERTIFIER CAN BE ANY CLINICIAN
THAT OVERSEES FAMILY PACK
SERVICES AT THE SITE. AND THAT A
PROVIDER THAT CERTIFIES A SITE
FOR FAMILY PACT SERVICES SHALL
HAVE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO
COMPLETE PROGRAM ORIENTATION
AFTER ENROLLMENT, AND THAT THE
DHS, DHS MUST OFFER TRAININGS
VIRTUALLY AND ON A MONTHLY
BASIS. FINALLY TO ENSURE
CONTINUITY WITH THE EXISTING
LAW, SB 1131 CLARIFIES THAT
MEDI-CAL DOES NOT HAVE TO
DISENROLL FAMILY PACT PROVIDERS
AS A RESULT OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY
OTHER STATES BASED ON CONDUCT
THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN
CALIFORNIA. TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE TODAY, I
HAVE KELBY LIN, WITH PLANNED
PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF
CALIFORNIA, TO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
BONTA. AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
KELBY LINDE, AND I'M THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS
AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES
OF CALIFORNIA, REPRESENTING
SEVEN AFFILIATES WHO PROVIDE
COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ON
BEHALF OF THE FAMILY PACT
PROGRAM THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
VÀ. WE ARE PROUD CO-SPONSORS OF
SB 1131, AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY
THANKING THE AUTHOR FOR HER
DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP ON
FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES,
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS THE
STATE'S LARGEST FAMILY PACT
PROVIDER, WITH HALF A MILLION
ANNUAL VISITS THROUGH THE
PROGRAM. FAMILY PACT PROVIDES
CRITICAL COVERAGE FOR
CALIFORNIANS WHO NEED AFFORDABLE
FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES,
PARTICULARLY PATIENTS WHO HAVE
CONFIDENTIALITY CONCERNS OR
WHOSE FAMILY INCOME EXCEEDS THE
MEDI-CAL LIMIT. PLANNED
PARENTHOOD SUPPORTS THE INTENDED
PURPOSE OF THE FAMILY PACT SITE
CERTIFIER PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT
ALL FAMILY PACT PROVIDERS ARE UP
TO DATE ON THE POLICIES AND
BENEFITS OF THE FAMILY PACT
PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THERE IS A
NEED FOR CLARIFICATION AND
UPDATES SO THAT THE PROGRAM
REFLECTS HOW FAMILY PACT
PROVIDERS PROVIDE CARE AND
FACILITATES THEIR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE THE NECESSARY OVERSIGHT.
AS REQUIRED. WE SHARE THE
STATE'S GOALS OF IMPROVING AND
MAINTAINING PROGRAM INTEGRITY,
ENSURING CLINICAL QUALITY AND
COMPLIANCE WITH FAMILY PACT
STANDARDS, AND MAINTAINING
ACCESS TO TIME SENSITIVE FAMILY
PLANNING SERVICES FOR PATIENTS.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD PRIORITIZES
PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF
CARE TO ALL PATIENTS, INCLUDING
FAMILY PACT PATIENTS. THIS BILL
WILL CLARIFY AND STREAMLINE THE
FAMILY PACT PROGRAM, IMPROVE
REQUIREMENTS TO SUSTAIN AND
EXPAND THE PROGRAM FOR FUTURE
YEARS, AND REDUCE HEALTH CARE
DISPARITIES FOR FAMILY PACT
PATIENTS ACROSS THE STATE. THE
FAMILY PACT PROGRAM IS CRITICAL
TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S PATIENT
POPULATION, AND THAT IS WHY
PPACA IS A PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF
1131. AND WE RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE FOR A COMMENT
OR QUESTIONS. NO COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
SENATOR DURAZZO, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS, FORWARD ON BEHALF
OF SENATOR GONZALEZ AND ENSURING
THAT WE HAVE YET ANOTHER TOOL IN
OUR TOOLBOX TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PROVIDING ADEQUATE FAMILY
PLANNING SERVICES IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. WITH
THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM
NUMBER FIVE, SB 1213 BY ATKINS,
PRESENTED BY DURAZO. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND FINAL ONE, I'M
HERE TO PRESENT ON BEHALF OF
SENATOR ATKINS, THIS BILL, WHICH
WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO BREAST
AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS,
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES AND
TREATMENT FOR LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. THIS BILL WILL
INCREASE THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY
THRESHOLD FOR THE EVERY WOMAN
COUNTS PROGRAM, AND BREAST AND
CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENT
PROGRAM FROM 200% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH IS $30,000
PER YEAR FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, TO
300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL, WHICH IS $45,180 PER
YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE
FREE BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER
SCREENINGS AND TREATMENT TO
ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIANS, ENSURING
THAT WOMEN CAN ACCESS TIMELY,
QUALITY CARE. CURRENTLY MANY
LOWER INCOME WOMEN WHO ARE
UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED WITH
AN INCOME ABOVE 200% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL ARE UNABLE
TO AFFORD TO PURCHASE INSURANCE
FOR THOSE WITH INSURANCE
PREMIUMS AND OUT OF POCKET
EXPENSES CAN STILL COST OVER
$10,000 PER YEAR. WOMEN MAY
CHOOSE TO SKIP IMPORTANT
SCREENINGS OR DELAY CARE IF
DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST OR
CERVICAL CANCER DUE TO HIGH
COST. OF COURSE, THAT INCREASES
THE RISK OF LATE STAGE CANCER
AND CANCER DEATH. THIS
CALIFORNIA MOVES TOWARDS
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE,
EXPAND THESE PROGRAMS WILL
ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA REMAINS A
LEADER IN HEALTH CARE
ACCESSIBILITY AND WILL HELP US
CONTINUE TO REDUCE CANCER
DEATHS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. WE HAVE SOME
WITNESSES HERE. MADAM CHAIR,
MEMBERS, ADAM OGDEN SMITH WITH
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY,
CANCER ACTION NETWORK, PROUD
CO-SPONSOR, ASK FOR YOUR AYE.
VOTE HERE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. AND I'M
COURTNEY QUINN. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
ALBUERA BREAST CANCER
FOUNDATION. WE'RE THE LARGEST
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED
SOLELY TO BREAST CANCER IN THE
GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA, WE'RE
THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE GREATER
SACRAMENTO AREA WHEN THEY FIND A
LUMP OR NEED A MAMMOGRAM, AND AS
A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, I HAVE
THE HONOR TO SHARE A COUPLE OF
STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
BEEN SUPPORTED THROUGH EVERY
WOMAN COUNTS IN THE BC TPW
PROGRAM, AND HOW THEY ARE
CREATING CANCER SURVIVORS, THE
FIRST IS WE RECEIVED A PHONE
CALL FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD
NEVER HAD A MAMMOGRAM AND SHE
DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE, AND I
SHARED ABOUT THE EVERY WOMAN
COUNTS PROGRAM, AND I STATED THE
INCOME ELIGIBILITY. AND SHE HAD
A HUGE SIGH. AND SHE SAYS, I
MAKE $100 MORE A MONTH THAN THE
ELIGIBILITY. SO DOES THAT MEAN I
CAN'T GET A MAMMOGRAM? AND I
TOLD HER BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN
THE GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA, OUR
ORGANIZATION WOULD PROVIDE HER
THE SUPPORT. SO C THEN A SECOND
INDIVIDUAL IS A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER WHO HAD EMERGENCY
INSURANCE ONLY. SHE FOUND A
LUMP. HER BUSINESS WAS
STRUGGLING AND SHE COULD BARELY
PAY THE EMERGENCY INSURANCE
PREMIUMS ALONE. AND SHE WAS
ELIGIBLE FOR EVERY WOMAN. COUNTS
ENDED UP BEING DIAGNOSED WITH
BREAST CANCER TO A CANCER
SURVIVOR. TODAY, THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM, AND I'M NOW GOING TO
TURN OVER THE TIME TO MY
COLLEAGUE HERE FROM SUSAN G.
KOMEN THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. CONOR
SWEENEY WITH THE SUSAN G. KOMEN
FOUNDATION. WE'RE A NATIONWIDE
BREAST CANCER NONPROFIT AND A
PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL, I
MAINLY JUST WANT TO ECHO THE
WORDS OF COURTNEY HERE AND
ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL TODAY. I BELIEVE THAT THE
WORK OF EVERY WOMAN COUNTS, AND
THE BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER
TREATMENT PROGRAM ALIGN VERY
STRONGLY WITH THE GOALS OF THIS
COMMITTEE. THE RESULTS THEY
DELIVER CAN BE MEASURED IN
CANCERS DETECTED AND LIVES SAVED
, BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER
IMPACTS EVERY COMMUNITY AND
EVERY DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA.
AND THE FOLKS AT PWC WORK VERY
HARD TO IDENTIFY THE GAPS WHERE
MORE ATTENTION IS NEEDED. THEY
TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO WORK WITH
CLINICS AND PROVIDERS THAT SERVE
HARD TO REACH POPULATIONS, AND
IN DOING SO, THEY ARE CONTINUING
TO DRIVE HEALTH EQUITY IN
CALIFORNIA, AND THEY'RE
MITIGATING THE DEVASTATING,
MEDICAL, EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL
IMPACTS OF BREAST AND CERVICAL
CANCER ON LOW INCOME,
UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS. SO THE
GOAL OF THIS BILL IS TO EXTEND
THOSE CRITICAL LIFE SAVING
SERVICES TO MORE CALIFORNIANS,
SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE WITH
ANNUAL INCOMES UP TO $45,180, AS
OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT LIMIT OF
$30,120, AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM
COURTNEY, INDIVIDUALS WITHIN
THIS INCOME RANGE STILL DO HAVE
DIFFICULTY SECURING AFFORDABLE
HEALTH COVERAGE OPTIONS. SO
ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS WOULD
MEAN THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE TO
MAKE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
FINANCIAL DECISIONS, OR EVEN PUT
THEIR LIVES AT RISK BY
POSTPONING OR DELAYING,
SCREENING. SO WITH THAT, WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE, AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION
AND POSITION. KELLY BROOKS, ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTY HEALTH
EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA, HERE IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MARK FAROOQ, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, IN SUPPORT
. WHITNEY FRANCIS WITH THE
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY AND SUPPORT. VANESSA
KHN, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF FAMILY
PHYSICIANS AND THE CALIFORNIA
PAN ETHNIC HEALTH NETWORK HERE
IN SUPPORT. DILLON ELLIOTT, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, IN SUPPORT.
CHRISTINE SMITH, HEALTH ACCESS
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. ROPES AND
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. BRIAN
SPENCER WITH THE AMERICAN
COLLEGE OF OB-GYNS, DISTRICT
NINE IN SUPPORT. TIM MADDEN,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS IN
SUPPORT. CHRIS MYERS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT.
JENNIFER SNYDER WITH CAPITAL
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF CITY OF
HOPE NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER AND
ALSO THE CALIFORNIA LIFE
SCIENCES IN SUPPORT. MOYAMOYA ON
BEHALF OF BIOCOM CALIFORNIA, IN
SUPPORT. MAUREEN PINEDA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY
CARE ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. RED
NOTE WE'RE REPRESENTING STANFORD
HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR. SO WE
HAVE ESTABLISHED QUORUM AT 208.
SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO CALL THE
ROLL. ONTO HERE ONTO PRESIDENT
WALDRON AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY. PRESIDENT ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. PRESIDENT WENDY
CARRILLO, WENDY CARRILLO,
PRESENT. FLORA HANEY HANEY,
PRESENT. JOAN SOYOUR MAIENSCHEIN
MCCARTY. JOE PATTERSON RODRIGUEZ
. RODRIGUEZ, PRESENT. SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ, PRESENT. SANTIAGO.
CHAVO. CHAVO PRESENT. WEBER.
WEBER, PRESENT. WE HAVE A
QUORUM. THANK YOU. ANY WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION? MOVED BY
AGUIAR-CURRY. SECONDED BY DOCTOR
ARAMBULA, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
SEEING NONE. THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING THIS BILL ON BEHALF
OF SENATOR ATKINS. WITH THAT,
THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. BONTA I MONTA I
WALDRON. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA
I WENDY CARRILLO. WENDY CARRILLO
I FLORA HANEY. HANEY I JOAN
SAWYER. MAIENSCHEIN MCCARTY. JOE
PATTERSON. RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ
I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ I SANTIAGO.
CHAVO CHAU I WEBER. WEBER I
MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN I
SENSOR THAT MEASURES OUT 10 TO
0. WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN SB 1289. ROTH.
HELLO, CHAIR. PLEASE PROCEED
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. FIRST, LET ME NOTE, I
ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT NOTED IN
THE IN THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS,
AS YOU NOTE, THE BILL REQUIRES A
DHC TO COLLECT DATA AND DEVELOP
STANDARDS FOR CALL CENTERS
OPERATED BY THE COUNTIES TO
ASSIST PEOPLE WITH THEIR
MEDI-CAL READING. TERMINATION
AND DETERMINATION. FEDERAL AND
STATE LAW REQUIRE THAT PEOPLE BE
ABLE TO APPLY FOR MEDI-CAL AS
QUESTIONS AND TURN IN
INFORMATION FOR THEIR MEDI-CAL
DETERMINATIONS OVER THE PHONE.
HOWEVER, AS UNFORTUNATELY, THE
WAIT TIMES FACED BY MANY
MEDI-CAL RECIPIENTS TO REACH
COUNTY WORKERS BY PHONE IN SOME
CASES ARE LONG, SOMETIMES TOO
LONG. SOME PEOPLE REPORT WAITING
FOR HOURS, SOME REPORT NEVER
GETTING THROUGH AT ALL, AND
OTHERS REPORT CALLING IN, ONLY
TO HAVE THE SYSTEM HANG UP ON
THEM. THIS BILL WILL REQUIRE
COUNTIES TO SUBMIT CERTAIN DATA
REGARDING CALL CENTER WAIT TIMES
AND WILL REQUIRE DHS TO
ESTABLISH STANDARDS SO THAT
PEOPLE ON MEDI-CAL MAY OBTAIN
THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED. I
HAVE CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE
POLICY COMMENTS, NOTED IN THE
ANALYSIS, AND COMMIT TO WORKING
TO STAKEHOLDERS WITH REGARD WITH
RESPECT TO THE ISSUES THAT
COMMITTEE STAFF AND MADAM CHAIR,
YOU'VE INDICATED. THANK YOU.
CHAIR ROTH, YOU'VE PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT. HELLO,
WHITNEY FRANCIS, HEALTH POLICY
FELLOW AT THE WESTERN CENTER ON
LAW AND POVERTY, PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF SB 1289, WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE GREATER OVERSIGHT
AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO COUNTY
CALL CENTERS TO ENSURE ELIGIBLE,
ELIGIBLE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO KEEP
THEIR MEDI-CAL COVERAGE FOR
YEARS. PEOPLE RECEIVING OR
APPLYING FOR MEDI-CAL AND THE
REPRESENTATIVES HAVE STRUGGLED
TO ACCESS COUNTY WORKERS BY
PHONE DUE TO LONG WAIT TIMES.
CALL DISCONNECTS, AND LANGUAGE
ACCESS BARRIERS DURING COVID, IT
GOT WORSE DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES
THAT REMAIN TO THIS DAY, PEOPLE
ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO REACH
COUNTY WORKERS BY PHONE, AND
WHEN THEY CAN'T, IT OFTEN MEANS
THEIR MEDI-CAL GETS CUT OFF. A
RECENT SURVEY OF MEDI-CAL
MEMBERS WHO LOST COVERAGE FOUND
THAT OF THOSE THAT HAD RETURNED
THEIR RENEWAL PACKETS, 35% SAID
THEY COULDN'T GET THROUGH WHEN
THEY TRIED TO CALL TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THEIR
MEDI-CAL COVERAGE. EVEN IN
COUNTIES WITH SHORTER WAIT
TIMES, ACTUAL PROCESSING TIMES
CAN BE MUCH LONGER. MEANWHILE,
CALIFORNIANS ARE LOSING THEIR
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. CALIFORNIA
CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER. THIS
BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE
DEPARTMENT TO COLLECT AND
PUBLICLY REPORT COUNTY CALL
CENTER METRICS. THIS PROVIDES
THE DEPARTMENT WITH AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
BARRIERS AND COUNTY SPECIFIC
ISSUES, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY
HELP RESOLVE SYSTEMIC GAPS IN
ISSUES. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR
MILLIONS IS LITERALLY ON THE
LINE. WE URGE YOUR AYE VOTE ON
THIS BILL THAT PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE SENATE
WITH NO NO VOTES. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KEVIN
ESTÁN. I'M WITH THE COALITION OF
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS, WE INVOLVE IN
THIS BILL BECAUSE CALL CENTERS
HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH
BENEFICIARIES OF MEDI-CAL AND
OTHER PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES HAS BEEN DOING A SURVEY
ABOUT PROCEDURAL DENIALS,
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE GET
DENIED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF THE
PROCEDURE. IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE
INELIGIBLE, IT'S JUST THAT THEY
DON'T MEET THE BEER. THE COUNTY
BUSINESS PRACTICES AND DURING,
SIX MONTHS ENDING WITH APRIL
30TH, 1% OF THE PEOPLE HAD NO
IDEA THAT THEY HAD TO DO THIS
ANNUAL REDETERMINATION 45% OF
THE PEOPLE NEVER GOT THE FORMS
TO COMPLETE, AND SENT BACK. 32%
OF THE PEOPLE SAID THEY, THAT
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET
THROUGH THE LINES AND TAUGHT ME
AND DEAL WITH THE CALL CENTER.
AND WE DO. AND MOST OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMIZED BY
THIS SYSTEM ARE HISPANICS.
FINALLY I WOULD SAY THAT LA DPS
DOES SURVEYS AND WE WITH THE
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST, WE
GET INFORMATION AND 30% OF THE
PEOPLE MORE ARE DENIED BECAUSE
OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TO THE,
THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU. SORRY
TAKE TIME. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME FORWARD. ME AGAIN,
MOLLY ROBSON WITH PLANNED
PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. NICOLE
WATERMAN, ON BEHALF OF THE
CHILDREN'S PARTNERSHIP AND
SUPPORT COLLEEN CORRIGAN ON
BEHALF OF CHILDREN NOW IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
THANK YOU. YOU'LL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. THANK YOU SIR. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, AMANDA
KERSHNER. ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATION, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN
AN OPPOSED, UNLESS AMENDED
POSITION AND WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR THE AMENDMENTS HE'S
ALREADY TAKEN AND HAS COMMITTED
TO TAKE IN THE FUTURE, OUR
OPPOSITION REALLY STEMS FROM A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ANY OF THE STANDARDS
THAT ARE CREATED ARE CREATED AS
PART OF A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
WHERE COUNTIES HAVE INPUT, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE A PART
OF THE PROCESS, AND I BELIEVE
SOME OF THE LANGUAGE REFLECTS
THAT. WE WILL BE INCLUDED IN
THAT STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDING TO
MEET THOSE STANDARDS, RIGHT NOW
WE HAVE A HIRING CRISIS FOR OUR
COUNTY WORKFORCE, AS YOU ARE ALL
VERY WELL AWARE OF, AND THAT
GOES THROUGH MANY OF OUR PUBLIC
SECTOR, VACANCIES. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE ANYTHING THAT'S
CREATED IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY MEET, ESPECIALLY AS
THESE ARE NEW STANDARDS AND NOT
THINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN
PLACE. ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT ANY OF THE
STANDARDS REFLECTED ARE
AVAILABLE FOR US UNDER OUR. IT
CONCERNS, SO ALL OF OUR COUNTIES
USE OUR CAL SAU SYSTEMS, BUT NOT
ALL OF THE COUNTIES USE THE
PHONE, APPLICATIONS THROUGH CAL
SOS. SOME OF THEM USE ADDITIONAL
IT VENDORS. AND SO NOT EVERYBODY
HAS THE SAME FUNCTIONALITY. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
METRICS THAT ARE ASKED FOR ARE
THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR US
TO COLLECT, OR THAT FUNDING IS
PROVIDED TO UPGRADE THOSE
SYSTEMS TO DO SO, I ALSO WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT ANY OF THE
STANDARDS CREATED ARE REFLECTIVE
OF OUR CALL CENTERS THAT ALSO
PROCESS OUR CAL APPLICATIONS,
UNDER CURRENT LAW, MEDI-CAL, CAL
ELIGIBILITY WORKERS ARE CROSS
TRAINED ON CALFRESH SO THAT WE
OFFER THEM A CAL FRESH
APPLICATION AS WELL. AND SO FOR
SOME OF THE DELAY IN THE CALL
CENTERS, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE
ACTUALLY DOING TWO JOBS AT ONCE,
WE'RE BOTH PROCESSING THE
MEDI-CAL PORTION, BUT THEN
ADDITIONALLY DOING THE CALFRESH
PORTION. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE STANDARDS ARE
REFLECTIVE OF THAT, AS WELL. AND
SO I WANT TO NOTE FOR YOU ALL
THAT, WE ARE CONCERNED,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE MEDI-CAL
COLA HAS BEEN, POTENTIALLY BEEN
ELIMINATED. AND SO FOR THAT, THE
FUNDING ISSUES AND MAKING SURE
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, GO
FORWARD WITH THESE STANDARDS IS
CRUCIAL FOR US. THANK YOU. ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE. I'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE FOR COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS. MOTION BY ARAMBULA.
SECONDED BY SANCHEZ. CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. I THINK THE
WITNESS TESTIMONY JUST, POINTING
OUT THE HIGHLIGHTING, THE
GLARING CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE
IN LACK OF SERVICE PROVIDED IS
INCREDIBLY CRITICAL, I CERTAINLY
HEAR A LOT OF THE, COMMENTS
PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY WELFARE
ASSOCIATION, I'M SURE IN YOUR
CLOSING YOU CAN ADDRESS THOSE. I
WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT WHAT YOU
ARE ASKING FOR IS FOR US TO SET
A BASIC STANDARD AND TO BE ABLE
TO COLLECT DATA, WHICH ARE TWO
THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED
TO DO AS JUST A FOUNDATIONAL
ASPECT OF THE WORK TO ENSURE
THAT EVERYONE HAS MEDI-CAL
COVERAGE IN THE WAY THAT THEY
SHOULD, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE
MEDI-CAL MEMBERS WAITING WITHOUT
EVEN US HAVING IN IT A SENSE OF
WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED TO, SO
WITH THAT, IN YOUR CLOSING,
PLEASE ADDRESS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I WANT TO ASSURE THE
COMMITTEE YOU, MADAM CHAIR, YOUR
MEMBERS AND MY COLLEAGUES
SITTING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF
ME, HOW MUCH WE VALUE THE WORK
THAT OUR COUNTIES, PERFORM IN
THIS SPACE UP AND DOWN THE
STATE, AND PARTICULARLY IN
ACUTELY AWARE OF THE WORK THAT
THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE
WORKERS THERE, PERFORM EVERY DAY
TO TRY TO SERVICE THOSE WHO ARE
OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THOSE WHO
WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME WORKING
FOR AND WORRYING ABOUT UP HERE,
I AM AWARE OF THE FUNDING
CHALLENGES IN OUR COUNTIES, AND
I'M CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND TERM IN
TERMS OF RECRUITING AND
RETAINING WORKERS TO PERFORM
THESE EXTRAORDINARILY VALUABLE
SERVICES. SO I CAN ASSURE YOU
THAT THERE WILL BE A STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
BILL TO THE EXTENT IT PASSES AND
HAPPENS TO BE SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR, BOTH PRIOR TO
SIGNATURE, PRIOR TO PASSAGE AND
CERTAINLY AFTERWARD, AS YOU ALSO
KNOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING
THROUGH BUDGET ISSUES, HERE IN
BOTH HOUSES, DON'T KNOW, QUITE
KNOW HOW THOSE WILL ALL BE
RESOLVED. I AM AWARE THAT THEIR
BUDGET ISSUES HERE, WITH RESPECT
TO POTENTIALLY THE FUNDING FOR
THIS BILL, AS WE COMPLETE THE
BUDGET PROCESS, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO VISIT AND REVISIT THIS ISSUE
TO MAKE SURE THAT TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE, THAT OUR COUNTIES ARE
FULLY FUNDED FOR THIS AND FOR
THE OTHER IMPORTANT SERVICES
THAT THEY PERFORM. SO WITH THAT,
UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER
QUESTIONS, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU, CHAIR
ROTH. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. THIS THE MOTION IS Dð
PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BONTA I
BONTA I WALDRON AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA
I WENDY CARILLO WENDY CARILLO I
LARA LARA I HANEY. HANEY I
JONES-SAWYER JONES-SAWYER I
MAIENSCHEIN MAIENSCHEIN I
MCCARTY. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON I RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ
I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ I SANTIAGO.
CHAU PHÐ. CHAU. VÚI. WEBER.
WEBER. I. THAT MEASURES OUT 13
TO 0. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS.
MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES THE
PRESENTATION OF OUR BILLS TO BE
HEARD TODAY. SO WE WILL GO ON TO
VOTING FIRST ON OUR CONSENT
CALENDAR, WHICH ARE ITEMS TWO,
SIX, EIGHT AND NINE. AS
PREVIOUSLY STATED AND MOVED BY
AGUIAR-CURRY, SECONDED BY
ARAMBULA. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BONTA I BONTA I WALDRON
AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY I
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I WENDY
CARRILLO. WENDY CARRILLO I FLORA
. THIS IS CONSENT. FLORA I HANEY
. HANEY I JONES-SAWYER
JONES-SAWYER I MAINCHAIN
MAINCHAIN I MCCARTY. JO.
PATTERSON. JO PATTERSON I
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ I SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ. I SANTIAGO. CHAVO SABO.
I WEBER. WEBER. I 13 CONSENTS
OUT WITH A VOTE OF 13 TO 0.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER ONE
NOW FOR VOTE SB 294 WIENER. THE
MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS MOVED BY AGUILAR.
CURRIE, SECONDED BY ARAMBULA
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ONTO AYE. ONTO AYE. WALDRON
AGUIAR-CURRY. AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE.
ARAMBULA. ARAMBULO AYE. WENDY.
CARILLO. WENDY. CARILLO. AYE.
FLORA LARA. NÓ. HANEY. HANEY.
AYE. JOHN. SAWYER. JOHN SAWYER.
AYE. MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN.
AYE. MCCARTY. JOE PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON. NØ. RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ AYE. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ.
NØ. SANTIAGO. CHAU CHAU. VÚI.
WEBER. WEBER AYE. 23-14 THAT
MEASURES OUT 10 TO 3. WE'LL MOVE
ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. SB 1131
BY GONZALEZ. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO PUBLIC SAFETY SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. OH MOVED
BY. WIECKOWSKI. SORRY. IT'S DUE.
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS IS MOVED
BY ARAMBULA. SECONDED BY
RODRIGUEZ. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ONTO A BONTA. AYE WALDEN. AGAR.
CURRY. AGAR. CURRY AYE.
ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA. AYE. WENDY.
CARILLO. WENDY. CARILLO AYE.
FLORA. LARA. NOT VOTING. HANEY
Â. HANEY. AYE. JOHN. SAWYER.
JOHN. SAWYER. AYE. MAINTAIN
MAIENSCHEIN. AYE. MCCARTY. JOE.
PATTERSON JO. PATTERSON. NÓ.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ. AYE.
SANCHEZ SANCHEZ. NØ. SANTIAGO.
SANTIAGO. AYE CHAU. VÚI. WEBER
WEBER. AYE. THAT MEASURES OUT 11
TO 2. MOVING ON TO THE. SB 1132.
DURAZZO THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO PUBLIC SAFETY. MOVED BY
ARAMBULA. SECONDED BY
AGUIAR-CURRY. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ONTO. AYE. ONTO. AYE.
WALDEN AGUIAR-CURRY.
AGUIAR-CURRY AYE. ARAMBULA.
ARAMBULA. AYE. WENDY. CARILLO.
WENDY CARILLO. AYE. LARA. LARA.
AYE. HANEY. HANEY. AYE
JONES-SAWYER. SAWYER. AYE.
MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN. AYE
MCCARTY. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON. AYE. RODRIGUEZ
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ. AYE. SANTIAGO SANTIAGO.
AYE. CHAU AYE. WEBER. WEBER.
AYE. MCCARTY MCCARTY. AYE. 15.
THAT MEASURES OUT. 15 TO 0.
WE'VE NOW VOTED ON ALL OF THE
MEASURES FOR THIS HEARING. WE
WILL HOLD THE HEARING OPEN FOR
ANOTHER TEN. OH, EVERYONE'S
HERE. WE'LL GO BACK AND, DO ADD
ONS, AND YOU JUST DO. ITEM ONE,
SB 294, WALDRON MCCARTY.
MCCARTY. AYE. SANTIAGO SANTIAGO.
AYE. THAT'S 12 THREE. THAT'S 12
THREE. CONSENT CALENDAR. WALDRON
MCCARTY. MCCARTY. AYE. SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO. AYE. 15. CONSENT IS
NOW OUT. 15 ZERO. ITEM FOUR SB
1131 WALDRON MCCARTY. MCCARTY
AYE. MEASURES OUT. 12 TWO.
AYE. ITEM FIVE SB 1213. WALDRON
LARA. JOHN. SAWYER. JOHN.
SAWYER. AYE MCCARTY. MCCARTY.
AYE. JOE. PATTERSON. JOE
PATTERSON. AYE. SANTIAGO.
SANTIAGO. AYE TÍNH ZERO. THAT
MEASURES OUT 15 TO 0. AND ITEM
ITEM SEVEN, SB 1289. WALDRON
MCCARTY. MCCARTY. AYE. SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO. AYE. 15 ZERO. THAT
MEASURE IS NOW AT 15 TO 0.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR HEARING FOR
THE DAY. THANK YOU.
WE'LL MEET AGAIN.