California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 570

Introduced by Assembly Member Travis Allen

February 24, 2015

An act to amend Section 104100 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to cardiovascular disease.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 570, as introduced, Travis Allen. Cardiovascular disease: high blood pressure.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to conduct a program for the control of high blood pressure. Existing law makes findings and declarations regarding the necessity of establishing that program.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those findings and declarations.

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.  

Section 104100 of the Health and Safety Code
is amended to read:

104100.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert The Legislature finds and declares that high blood
pressure, also known as hypertension, is a widespread and serious
public health problem in California. This condition, when
untreated, is a major contributor to heart disease, stroke, kidney
disease, and related cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Although high blood pressure can be effectively controlled through
the use of now well established antihypertensive drugs, treatment
is not always adequately utilized.

begin delete

It

end delete

begin insert (b) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert It end insert is estimated that there are begin delete two million end delete begin insert end insert begin insert 2,000,000 end insert adults
in California who have high blood pressure. It is further estimated,
based on national data, that begin delete no more than end delete 71 percent begin insert or less end insert of all
adult Californians with high blood pressure are aware of their
condition, begin delete and that end delete begin insert and, end insert of those who are aware, only 40 percent
are being effectively treated. Thus, of begin delete some two million end delete begin insert the
approximately 2,000,000 adults in end insert California begin delete adults end delete with high
blood pressure, only about 568,000 have their condition adequately
controlled. Unless the problem of uncontrolled high blood pressure
among begin delete some end delete begin insert the approximately end insert 1,432,000 adults is promptly
addressed, many of these individuals will experience preventable
serious illness, begin delete disability end delete begin insert disability, end insert and death. In addition, the state
will continue to face unnecessary medical and welfare costs
resulting from high blood pressure and its resulting effects.
Consequently, it is necessary to provide for expanded statewide
efforts, interface with relevant federal legislation, establish and
maintain appropriate guidelines, and enhance high blood pressure
control activities at the community level. Coordination of local
and state efforts in the planning, implementation, and evaluation
of high blood pressure control activities is begin delete required, end delete begin insert required end insert in
order to improve allocations and utilization of resources to control
high blood pressure in the begin delete states end delete begin insert state’s end insert population.