BILL NUMBER: AB 8	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Nunez

                        DECEMBER 4, 2006

   An act relating to health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 8, as introduced, Nunez. Health care coverage.
   Existing law does not provide a system of universal health care
coverage for California residents. Existing law provides for the
creation of various programs to provide health care services to
persons who have limited incomes and meet various eligibility
requirements. These programs include the Healthy Families Program
administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the
Medi-Cal program administered by the State Department of Health Care
Services. Existing law provides for the regulation of health care
service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and health
insurers by the Department of Insurance.
   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations
regarding health care coverage and would declare the intent of the
Legislature that affordable, quality health care coverage be made
available to all Californians.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) With over 6.5 million residents without health care coverage,
California has the largest population of individuals without health
care coverage in the United States.
   (b) All Californians should have access to health care coverage.
   (c) Addressing this challenge is central to the health and
well-being of all Californians as well as the state's economic growth
and competitiveness.
   (d) The rate of growth in health care costs is unsustainable and
is a key cause of the rising number of individuals without health
care coverage.
   (e) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that
affordable, quality health care coverage be made available to all
Californians.