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ACHD Advocate Leg Update:
The Legislature remains in a special session. As ACHD noted previously, the Assembly has been in a special session related to oil and gas prices since the final day of the regular legislative session. The Senate, originally declining to participate in the special session, returned to Sacramento last week to begin their work in this space.
As a reminder, the Legislature will return to swear in new members on December 2, 2024, and session will reconvene for the first year of a two year session, the first week of January.
For those who missed ACHD’s End of Session Legislative Update, A complete report regarding ACHD bills with positions can be found here. To assist in reading the report please note that "Chaptered" means that it was signed by the Governor.
Bills Of Note:
Below are some bills of note, including additional measures that ACHD did not position on, that may be of interest.
SB 399 (Wahab): Employer Communications - Signed
Prohibits an employer from subjecting, or threatening to subject, an employee to discharge, discrimination, retaliation, or any other adverse action because the employee declines to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or affirmatively declines to participate in, receive, or listen to any communications with the employer or its agents or representatives, the purpose of which is to communicate the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters and would require an employee who refuses to attend a meeting as described to continue to be paid, as specified. The bill would impose a civil penalty of $500 on an employer who violates these provisions. - ACHD Oppose
SB 1220 (Limon): Public benefits contracts: phone operator jobs - Vetoed
The bill would have significantly limited the ability of any public agency from utilizing AI or artificial decision making in their facilities. While specifically related to call centers surrounding enrollment in public benefit programs, the bill as drafted, was significantly expansive and would have applied to all health care district systems utilizing advanced technology. - ACHD Oppose
AB 3129 (Wood): Health care system consolidation - Vetoed
The bill would have subjected a wide range of health care transactions that involve private equity groups to review by the Attorney General (AG). - ACHD Neutral
AB 869 (Wood): Hospitals: seismic safety compliance - Signed
AB 869 provides up to a 5-year delay for small, rural, critical access, and district hospitals, as well as distressed hospital loan recipients, to comply with the 2030 seismic mandate. - ACHD High Priority Support
SB 1432 (Caballero): Health Facilities: seismic standards - Vetoed
SB 1432 would have offered all hospitals a 5-year extension to the 2030 Seismic Mandate. The bill was vetoed by the Governor who noted that a five-year extension was too significant and that extensions should be granted on a limited case-by-case basis. - ACHD Support
AB 2339 (Aguiar-Curry): Medi-Cal Telehealth- Vetoed
AB 2339 would have allowed certain Medi-Cal patients to be established asynchronously for certain reproductive services. In his veto message the Governor sited the work of the Telehealth Advisory Group and Department of Health Care Services in this space. - ACHD Support
SB 729 (Menjivar): Health care coverage: treatment for infertility and fertility services- Signed
SB 729 was signed by the Governor and requires health care service plans and disability insurance policies issued or amended after July 1, 2025, to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services. Prior to this legislation, most commercial insurance companies refused to offer coverage for IVF or other fertility services. - ACHD Watch
A complete report regarding ACHD bills, with positions, can be found here. To assist in reading the report please note that "Chaptered" means that it was signed by the Governor.
Ballot Propositions:
As previously reported, ACHD has adopted a support position on two ballot Propositions. Details regarding these positions is below. As a reminder, healthcare districts are prohibited from adopting formal support or opposition positions on ballot measures.
Proposition 5: Lowering the Super Majority Requirements for Local Bonds
Would amend the California constitution by lowering the required threshold to 55% for any borrowing to fund affordable housing construction, down payment assistance programs and a host of “public infrastructure” projects, including those for water management, local hospitals and police stations, broadband networks, and parks.
Supporters include the California Democratic Party, California State Building and Construction Trades Council, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California YIMBY, California Labor Federation, League of Women Voters.
Opponents of the bill include California Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayers Association and National Federation of Independent Business.
According to a September 2024 PPIC Poll - Amongst likely voters 49% would vote yes; 50% would vote no and 1% are undecided. A total of $5 million has been raised in support and $29.7 million has been raised in opposition. This includes monetary and non-monetary contributions.
Proposition 35: Managed Care Organization Tax
Proposition 35 would require the state to spend the money from a tax on health care plans, on Medi-Cal, the public insurance program for low- income Californians, and people with disabilities. The revenue would go to primary and specialty care, emergency services, family planning, mental health and prescription drugs. It would also prevent legislators from using the tax revenue to replace existing state Medi-Cal spending. Over the next four years, it is projected to generate upwards of $35 billion.
Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed using the tax revenue to cover other Medi-Cal program expenses, walking back a deal to support new investments. Supporters include California Medical Association, Planned Parenthood, California Hospital Association, California Dental Association, California Primary Care Association, California Democratic Party, California Republican Party.
Opponents include the league of Women Voters of California, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, The Children’s Partnership, California Alliance for Retired Americans, Courage California
According to a September 2024 PPIC Poll - Amongst likely voters 63% would vote yes; 43% would vote no and 2% are undecided. A total of $80.9 million has been raised in support. This includes monetary and non-monetary contributions.
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