BILL NUMBER: SB 22	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Beall

                        DECEMBER 3, 2012

   An act relating to health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 22, as introduced, Beall. Health care coverage: mental health
parity.
   Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975,
provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service
plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law provides
for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of
Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plan contracts
or health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after
July 1, 2000, to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically
necessary treatment of severe mental illnesses, as defined, and of
serious emotional disturbances of a child, as specified, under the
same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would ensure compliance with and implementation of
state and federal mental health parity laws.
   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.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would ensure compliance with and implementation of
federal and state mental health parity laws.