BILL ANALYSIS
AB 543
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 543 (Ma) - As Amended: May 5, 2009
Policy Committee: Health Vote:18-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill extends and clarifies the funding mechanism of the
Nurse-Family Partnership program (NFP), administered by the
California Department of Public Health (DPH), until January 1,
2014. This bill authorizes DPH to accept federal grants or
private funding to support the program. The NFP provides grants
to counties for voluntary registered nurse home visiting
services for eligible first-time mothers and their children, and
their families.
FISCAL EFFECT
Total expenditures of $5.4 million statewide (10%-20% GF or
state special fund). According to the author, the nine county
programs have average annual budgets of $600,000 and are funded
with Medi-Cal, Proposition 99 special funds, county GF,
Proposition 10 funding, and other maternal and child health
funding. This estimate assumes a small portion of current law
funding is attributable to state GF or special funds.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill extends a current law program that
supports low-income women with young children. NFP provides
first-time, low-income mothers with home visitation services
by public health nurses. County-based programs provide
outreach and education regarding prenatal care, child
development, nutrition, and economic self-sufficiency. Home
visiting programs like the NFP have been evaluated for
impacts. According to a RAND evaluation, similar programs
generate revenue and savings from increased employment and
earnings, and reduced costs associated with Medi-Cal, food
stamps, CalWORKs, special education, homeless shelters, and
the criminal justice system.
AB 543
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2)Background . There are nine county California NFP program sites
in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento,
Santa Clara, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo. NFP has
documented outcomes for enrollees. For example, NFP has
demonstrated a 20% reduction in the number of women smoking
during pregnancy. In addition, of those mothers who entered
the program without a high school diploma or GED, 41% had
earned their diploma or GED and 16% were pursuing education
beyond high school by the time infants are 24 months old.
Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081