This week the following bills were heard in appropriations committees;

SB1479, AB1797, AB2098, AB1940, AB2107 and have been moved to Suspense File. What is the suspense file? Scroll down to learn more.

1 additional bill has come to our attention:

SB1033: Health Care Coverage

“This bill would require the Department of Managed Health Care and the commissioner to revise these regulations, and develop and adopt regulations establishing demographic data collection standards, no later than July 1, 2023, and to 2024. The bill would require health care service plans and health insurers to assess the individual cultural, linguistic, and health-related social needs of the enrollees and insured groups insureds for the purpose of identifying and addressing health disparities, improving health care quality and outcomes, and addressing population health.”

This description is awfully close to the same intentions given when asked about the changes to the current immunization registry, addressed in bill AB1797.

Action: Email your legislators and tell them to OPPOSE SB1033.

IMPORTANT SB866 UPDATE

SB866 is the minor consent bill that will allow children ages 15+ to receive vaccinations without parental consent.

Earlier this week, Protect Us sent out an announcement  by California Democratic Party (CDP) Chair, Rusty Hicks, stating that the CDP officially endorses SB866. This recent announcement was made only in the Protect Us newsletter, and we have yet to see it published or repeated anywhere else. Additionally, SB866 could be heard at any of the next Assembly Floor Sessions and has been placed on the agenda multiple times. However, Senator Weiner still has not brought SB866 up for a floor vote. While we can only speculate why he has not brought it up, we believe your calls and emails are working and Senator Weiner still does not have the votes from his colleagues.

This means we must continue to put pressure on our legislators.

While amending the bill to raise the age of consent to 15 from 12 has portrayed a more tolerable bill to legislators, we must remind them that it  still does not address many issues.

Amending this bill does not address:

• The locations at which a minor will be able to receive vaccinations and if they are adequately equipped to handle an emergency
• How the provider will have access to their medical history.
• The lack of resources, access to an advocate, or support available to a minor should they suffer a vaccine injury.
• The requirement for a parent or guardian to file a compensation claim, should the minor suffer an injury. (A minor cannot sue or file for compensation without parental consent per the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program)

Immediate Action Required:

Use the 1-Click Campaigns below to contact your legislator directly to oppose.

“This bill would require the Department of Managed Health Care and the commissioner to revise these regulations, and develop and adopt regulations establishing demographic data collection standards, no later than July 1, 2023, and to 2024. The bill would require health care service plans and health insurers to assess the individual cultural, linguistic, and health-related social needs of the enrollees and insured groups insureds for the purpose of identifying and addressing health disparities, improving health care quality and outcomes, and addressing population health.”

During one hearing for AB1797: Immunization Registry, the same intentions were given when asked about the changes to the current immunization registry.

Send an email to approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov

Talking points to customization for email:

• From Senate Appropriations Analysis:
• “Staff anticipates unknown, potentially significant costs for the DMHC (hundreds of thousands, Managed Care Fund) for specified workload, including: onetime costs to revise specified regulations, ongoing costs to review health plan filings to ensure compliance with obtaining the National Committee for Quality Assurance Health Equity Accreditation, and ongoing costs to establish and manage a technical assistance program. Staff anticipates permanent positions may be needed to develop the technical assistance program, as specified; to conduct plan monitoring for compliance; and possibly, increased workload pressures to the DMHC Help Center to answer questions related to the technical assistance program. Staff notes similar workload to the CDI for regulation revisions and compliance oversight; estimates are indeterminate at this time but likely one-time, high tens of thousands (Insurance Fund). CalPERs reports no anticipated impact.”

Please Call Assemblyman, Heath Flora at  916-319-2012 and 209-599-2112

Sample script:

I am calling to ask Assembly member Flora to amend AB 2107 to strike through the following language: (A) Collect anterior nasal swabs if the person to be tested is unable to self-swab. I do not want volunteers to swab my children’s or any children’s noses in the school or preschool setting. Thank you.

**Please note, if there is concern that parents are not unable to swab the noses of those students unable to self swab this is addressed in the bill analysis.

In the Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Bill Analysis:

California Association for Medical Laboratory Technology (who opposes)

“According to the Assembly bill analysis dated March 31, 2022, Public Health Institute (PHI) argues that parents of school children unable to self-swab are prohibited from collecting and performing tests on their own children. That is simply not true. Under BPC 1241(b)(7), any individual is authorized to perform clinical laboratory tests or examinations, approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for sale to the public without a prescription in the form of an over-the-counter test kit, on their own bodies or on their minor children or legal wards.

COVID-19 testing in schools: COVID-19 testing plans.

Senate Bill placed in Suspense. Call and Email the Appropriations Committee and urge them to leave SB1479 in the Suspense File.

Send an email to approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov

Talking points for email:

• SB 1479 in the bill analysis is $3 billion annually and this program is also contingent on being adequately appropriated, however only $1.8 billion is appropriated for this year alone – leaving schools in limbo when the money runs out this school year and next.

• Requires a costly three year COVID testing plan for school districts which neither CDPH or Governor Newsom currently require.

• CDPH frequently updates their school guidance. These changes could require schools ramp up testing without any notice and at an untold cost, or they could allow schools reduce testing, but schools would have already incurred the costs and not easily be able to ramp down. Either way, both scenarios are costly to school districts as uncertainty from some state mandates often are.

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