BILL NUMBER: SB 769	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 14, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 30, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 28, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 2, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alquist

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to add Sections 101318 and 101318.5 to the Health and
Safety Code, relating to federal funding.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 769, as amended, Alquist. Federal funding: supplemental
appropriations: pandemic flu.
   Existing law establishes procedures and requirements to govern the
allocation to, and expenditure by, local health jurisdictions of
federal funding received for the prevention of, and response to,
bioterrorist attacks and other public health emergencies. Existing
law provides that these procedures apply only when local health
jurisdictions are designated by a federal or state agency to manage
the funds for public health preparedness and response to bioterrorist
attacks and other public health emergencies, pursuant to a specified
federally approved plan. Existing law repeals these provisions as of
January 1, 2011, as specified.
   This bill would, commencing with the 2009-10 fiscal year, provide
that federal funding received pursuant to the federal 2009
Supplemental Appropriations Act for pandemic flu for purposes of
state and local public health and emergency response infrastructure
would be subject to appropriation by the Legislature for allocation
by the State Department of Public Health  pursuant to the
specified federally approved plan   , as prescribed
 .
   This bill would also require the department to use funds allocated
pursuant to the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, as specified,
to expand the capacity of the California Health Alert Network, or
another appropriate communications network, in a manner that would
allow the department to communicate electronically and in a timely
manner with every general acute care hospital and primary care clinic
in the state during a public health emergency.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
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) The Legislature intends to ensure that federal funds granted
for the purpose of emergency preparedness for responding to a
pandemic flu outbreak are distributed appropriately to local public
health jurisdictions. 
   (b) The Legislature acknowledges that, as a result of the recent
economic downturn, California's local health departments have lost
tens of millions of dollars in funding and hundreds of employment
positions.  
   (c) 
    (b)  The public health infrastructure and workforce at
the local level are the first line of defense against communicable
disease. Without proper personnel in place, a response to the H1N1
flu virus or any other public health threat is significantly
weakened.
  SEC. 2.  Section 101318 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
   101318.  (a) Commencing with the 2009-10 fiscal year, federal
funding received pursuant to the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act
(Public Law 111-32) for pandemic flu for purposes of state and local
public health and emergency response infrastructure, including, but
not limited to, epidemiology, communicable disease response,
workforce, laboratory capacity, public communications, and community
mitigation guidance and planning, shall be subject to appropriation
by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or other statute for
allocation by the department in accordance with this article.
   (b) This article shall govern instances when federal funding is
allocated and expended for disease control and prevention activities
by  the state and  local health jurisdictions.
   (c)  The funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall
be allocated pursuant to the federally approved collaborative
state-local plan.  The proportion of funds allocated to
local health jurisdictions shall be the same as the proportion
stipulated in the 2008-09 federally approved collaborative
state-local plan. 
   (d) The department may establish a minimum allocation of less than
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to local health
jurisdictions, if the department consults with the California
Conference of Local Health Officers and the County Health Executives
Association of California. 
  SEC. 3.  Section 101318.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
to read:
   101318.5.  Using funds allocated pursuant to the 2009 Supplemental
Appropriations Act (Public Law 111-32), and to the extent permitted
by federal law, the department shall expand the capacity of the
California Health Alert Network, or another appropriate
communications network, in a manner that allows the department to
communicate electronically and in a timely manner with every general
acute care hospital and primary care clinic in the state during a
public health emergency.