BILL NUMBER: SB 212 CHAPTERED 10/01/01 CHAPTER 374 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 1, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE MAY 14, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 8, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 29, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 19, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Senator Oller (Coauthors: Senators Escutia, Johannessen, Kuehl, Ortiz, Romero, and Vincent) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Leslie, Robert Pacheco, and Pescetti) FEBRUARY 13, 2001 An act to add Chapter 1.1 (commencing with Section 120381) to Part 2 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 212, Oller. Meningococcal disease. Existing law contains various vaccination requirements related to school attendance. This bill would require the State Department of Health Services to develop a Meningococcal Disease Strategic Prevention Plan. In developing the plan the department would be required to review various scientific and medical references, other governmental disease prevention programs, and health coverage programs. This bill would also require the department to involve and receive input from victims of meningococcal disease and their families in the development of the plan. This bill would require the department to have the plan completed and made available to the Legislature on or before June 30, 2002. This bill would appropriate $100,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Health Services for the purposes of the bill. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Appropriation: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. This act shall be known, and may be cited as, the Meningococcal Disease Strategic Prevention Act of 2001. SEC. 2. (a) The Legislature finds and declares: (1) Meningococcal disease is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that most often affects children and young adults. (2) There are some strains of meningococcal disease that can be prevented through the use of vaccines that are currently available. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that: (1) The State Department of Health Services develop a strategic plan to address ways to prevent the spread of this devastating disease. (2) Local public health agencies and postsecondary educational institutions are encouraged to periodically sponsor meningococcal disease education and vaccination days in local communities. (3) In making the vaccine accessible it is not the intent of the Legislature that the vaccine be purchased with public funds at this time, although purchase of the vaccine with public funds may be a recommendation of the strategic plan. SEC. 3. Chapter 1.1 (commencing with Section 120381) is added to Part 2 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code, to read: CHAPTER 1.1. MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE STRATEGIC PREVENTION ACT OF 2001 120381. (a) The State Department of Health Services, in consultation with the State Department of Education, local public health agencies, and postsecondary educational institutions, shall develop a Meningococcal Disease Strategic Prevention Plan. (b) The plan shall include, but not be limited to, a review of all of the following: (1) The current scientific literature on meningococcal disease. (2) Experiences of other state and local governmental jurisdictions in the prevention of meningococcal disease and in prevention programs for similarly infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and hepatitis. (3) The possible role of age-specific vaccination programs for meningococcal disease. (4) The availability of vaccines for meningococcal disease. (5) The application and roles of other governmental programs. (6) Current health plan coverages and other health insurance products. (c) The victims of meningococcal disease and their families shall be involved and have input in the development of the plan. (d) The department shall encourage public and private medical entities to cooperate with each other to make meningococcus vaccines and vaccinations accessible and provide any currently available vaccines to families that desire that their children be inoculated. (e) The plan shall be completed and made available to the Legislature on or before June 30, 2002. SEC. 4. The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Health Services for the purpose of developing the Meningococcal Disease Strategic Prevention Plan pursuant to Chapter 1.1 (commencing with Section 120381) of Part 2 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code. SEC. 5. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to enable the Meningococcal Disease Strategic Prevention Plan required by this act to be developed for the protection of public safety as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act go into immediate effect.