BILL NUMBER: AB 357 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 16, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 6, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Pan
FEBRUARY 14, 2013
An act to add Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) to
Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code,
and to repeal Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of Part
6.2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, relating to child health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 357, as amended, Pan. Children's Health Advisory Board.
Existing law requires the state to implement and administer
various child health and disease prevention programs. Existing law
establishes the Healthy Families Advisory Board, a 15-member advisory
panel appointed by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board.
Existing law provides for the transition of children from the Healthy
Families Program to Medi-Cal, including the transfer of the Healthy
Families Advisory Board to the State Department of Health Care
Services.
This bill would repeal the Healthy Families Advisory Board and
instead rename and recast the board as the Children's Health Advisory
Board, an independent, statewide advisory body charged with
developing a vision for children's health in the state, among other
tasks. The bill would also provide related legislative findings and
declarations.
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 health and well-being of California's children should be
among the state's top priorities, and it is imperative that every
child in California has meaningful health coverage with benefits that
support healthy growth and development.
(b) Children's health coverage should encompass more than just
treatment of diseases and illnesses, but also cover services and care
to promote healthy development and well-being.
(c) All children should receive care that meets recognized
standards of practice.
(d) For the first time in history, the current generation of
children is likely to be less healthy than their parents and live
shorter lives.
(e) The incidences and types of chronic disease in children have
both increased and changed dramatically over the past four decades.
One in five children have a mental health problem, and the number of
overweight children has tripled for preschoolers and adolescents and
quadrupled for children 6 to 11 years of age, inclusive.
(f) Approximately 1.1 million children in California are
uninsured, and the quality of children's health services and access
to these services reflect significant disparities in geographic,
racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status.
(g) Children with special health care needs are often those who
experience the greatest challenges in accessing a variety of the
high-quality services they need.
(h) The administration and delivery of child health programs is
often ineffective, uncoordinated, and incomplete with little
accountability for quality.
(i) The modern epidemics facing children today have lifelong
consequences and present significant costs to the economy. The
failure to ensure the health of our children may jeopardize their
ability to function effectively as adults and for our state and
nation to remain strong and competitive in our global society.
SEC. 2. Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
Article 7.5. Children's Health Advisory Board
124167. (a) The Healthy Families Advisory Board established by
former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance Code is hereby renamed the
Children's Health Advisory Board.
(b) The Children's Health Advisory Board shall be an independent,
statewide advisory board that shall develop a vision for children's
health in California, make recommendations on improving child health
systems, and set goals and standards for children's health coverage.
(c) The membership of the advisory board shall be composed of the
following 15 members:
(1) One member who is a licensed, practicing dentist, appointed by
the Governor.
(2) One representative from a licensed nonprofit primary care
clinic, appointed by the Governor.
(3) One representative of the mental health provider community,
appointed by the Governor.
(4) One representative from the health plan community, appointed
by the Governor.
(5) One representative from the business community, appointed by
the Governor.
(6) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in the area
of family practice medicine, appointed by the Senate Committee on
Rules.
(7) One representative from a licensed hospital that is on the
disproportionate share list maintained by the State Department of
Health Care Services, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(8) One representative of the substance abuse provider community,
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(9) One representative of the county public health provider
community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(10) One representative from the education community, appointed by
the Senate Committee on Rules.
(11) Three representatives from the Medi-Cal population, appointed
by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(12) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in
pediatrics, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(13) One representative from a family with children with special
needs, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(d) The advisory board members shall have demonstrated expertise
in providing health-related services to children 18 years of age and
under, as applicable.
(e) The advisory board shall elect, from among its members, its
chair.
(f) The advisory board's powers and duties shall include, but not
be limited to, all of the following:
(1) To advise the Director of Health Care Services on all
policies, regulations, and operations of the Medi-Cal program
related to providing health care services to children .
(2) To consider all written recommendations of the advisory board
and respond in writing when the Director of Health Care Services
rejects the advice of the advisory board.
(3) To meet at least quarterly, unless deemed unnecessary by the
chair.
(g) The members of the advisory board shall be reimbursed for all
necessary travel expenses associated with the activities of the
advisory board.
(h) The State Department of Health Care Services shall provide
staff assistance to the advisory board.
(i) The Legislature does not intend the addition of this section
to result in a new board but is instead a continuation of the prior
board established by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance Code,
and therefore no new board members shall be appointed until a vacancy
occurs.
SEC. 3. Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of Part 6.2
of Division 2 of the Insurance Code is repealed.