BILL ANALYSIS SB 409 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 5, 2006 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Judy Chu, Chair SB 409 (Kehoe) - As Amended: March 23, 2006 Policy Committee: NA Vote:NA Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill appropriates $7 million (GF) in the current budget year to supplement funding provided in the Budget Act of 2005, consisting of $5.4 million to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for pandemic flu vaccines, laboratory equipment, and state staff for pandemic flu planning/communicable disease outbreaks, and $1.6 million to the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) for personal protective equipment for ambulance personnel, as follows: 1)To EMSA, $1.6 million for the purchase and provision of minimum personal protective equipment for ambulance personnel who agree, through a contract with EMSA or the local emergency medical services agency, to participate in state and local disaster response. Recipients of the personal protective equipment are required to replace the equipment, as necessary, and to provide necessary, ongoing training on the use of the equipment. 2)To DHS: a) $76,000 to oversee management of antiviral supplies, vaccines, and medical supplies that need to be obtained and distributed during a pandemic; b) $415,000 to provide expanded capacity in the Microbial Diseases Laboratory and the Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Laboratory to implement new tests to control infectious SB 409 Page 2 diseases, and to purchase a portable Raman Infrared Microscopy System and a portable Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectroscopy System for the state laboratory in Richmond; c) $460,000 to purchase doses of antiviral supplies used in the prevention or treatment of influenza; and d) $4.5 million to strengthen pandemic influenza planning efforts, conduct epidemiologic investigations of infectious and communicable disease outbreaks, and provide epidemiologic and statistical support as requested. 3)Exempts funds appropriated under this bill from State Contract Act requirements in order to rapidly implement pandemic influenza planning and preparedness efforts, contracts or other agreements entered into for pandemic influenza planning or preparedness activities. FISCAL EFFECT Appropriates $7 million (GF); $5.4 million to DHS and $1.6 million to EMSA. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . This bill appropriates $7 million to enhance California's ability to respond to public health emergencies, whether naturally occurring or resulting from terrorism. The appropriation in this bill for DHS is intended to strengthen DHS' response to public health emergencies, including pandemic influenza, strengthen the DHS laboratory infrastructure and staffing, expand the state's disease surveillance, and improve DHS' ability to respond to pandemic influenza and other natural and intentional disasters that can jeopardize public health. The appropriation in this bill for EMSA is intended to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for 1,500 private ambulance units through grants from local Emergency Medical SB 409 Page 3 Services agencies. This equipment will ensure that private ambulance providers have a greater level of protection to enable an "all hazard" response with an emphasis on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events. EMSA indicates approximately 28% of the ambulances in California have sufficient PPE to respond to terrorism events and disasters. 2)Background . DHS states one of the most important public health issues facing California is the threat of pandemic influenza. As of January 2006, a pandemic influenza strain does not exist, but a new strain of avian influenza has been spreading in bird populations. As of January 14, 2006, there were 148 confirmed cases and 79 deaths from avian flu in six nations. The governor's 2006-07 budget appropriates $45.8 million (GF), $103.8 million in federal funds, and provides 162.8 positions to support California's public health system's capacity to respond to various events, including bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious diseases, and other public health threats. Reports over the last few years by the RAND Corporation and the Little Hoover Commission have urged improvements to California's public health infrastructure. 3)Proposed Author's Amendment . In committee, the author intends to amend this bill to add an urgency clause. Analysis Prepared by : Scott Bain / APPR. / (916) 319-2081