BILL ANALYSIS
SB 409
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 409 (Kehoe)
As Amended April 27, 2006
2/3 vote. Urgency
SENATE VOTE :Vote not relevant
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE
(vote not relevant) (vote not relevant)
APPROPRIATIONS 14-0
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| | | | |
|Ayes:|Chu, Runner, Bass, Berg, | | |
| |Calderon, De La Torre, | | |
| |Emmerson, Karnette, | | |
| |Klehs, Leno, Nakanishi, | | |
| |Ridley-Thomas, Saldana, | | |
| |Yee | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Appropriates $7 million [General Fund (GF)] in the
current budget year to supplement funding provided in the Budget
Act of 2005. Contains an urgency clause allowing this bill to
take effect immediately upon enactment. Specifically, this bill
appropriates $5.4 million to the Department of Health Services
(DHS) for pandemic flu vaccines, laboratory equipment, state
staff for pandemic flu planning/communicable disease outbreaks,
and $1.6 million to the Emergency Medical Services Authority
(EMSA) for personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighter
emergency medical technicians (firefighter EMTs) and ambulance
personnel, as follows:
1)To EMSA: $1.6 million for the purchase and provision of PPE
for firefighter EMTs and ambulance personnel who:
a) Demonstrate a need for the equipment;
b) Have sought other funding options (including federal
SB 409
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homeland security grant funds) but who have been unable to
secure funding;
c) Agree, through a contract with EMSA, the local emergency
medical services agency or the local public agency that
provides fire protection and emergency medical services, to
participate in state and local disaster response; and,
d) Replace the equipment, as necessary, and provide
necessary, ongoing training on the use of equipment.
2)Requires the EMSA director to give first priority for
distribution of the PPE to those local public agencies that
provide fire protection and emergency medical services.
3)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
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.
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4)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) in 2005-06 ($5.4
million to DHS and $1.6 million to EMSA).
COMMENTS :
1)This urgency 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
PPE for firefighter EMTs and ambulance personnel through
grants. This equipment will ensure that EMTs and ambulance
personnel have a greater level of protection to enable an "all
hazard" response, with an emphasis on chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear and explosive events.
2)DHS states that 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 April 21, 2006, there were 204 confirmed
human cases and 113 deaths from avian flu in nine nations.
The Governor's 2006-07 DHS 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,
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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.
Analysis Prepared by : Scott Bain / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 FN:
0014057