BILL NUMBER:  AB 2179
  VETOED	DATE: 09/26/2016




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2179 without my signature.

This bill creates a hepatitis C counselor classification allowing a
person who is trained to perform hepatitis C virus rapid tests to do
so.

The Department of Public Health works with local health agencies to
train HIV counselors who test for both HIV and hepatitis C. National
health guidelines recommend people at risk for either of these
diseases be tested for both. As such, I believe the existing
counselor classification is more protective of public health.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.