BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 804 Page 1 SENATE THIRD READING SB 804 (Committee on Health) As Introduced September 1, 2015 Majority vote SENATE VOTE: 39-0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Health |19-0 |Bonta, Maienschein, | | | | |Bonilla, Burke, | | | | |Chávez, Chiu, Gomez, | | | | |Gonzalez, Roger | | | | |Hernández, Lackey, | | | | |Nazarian, Patterson, | | | | |Ridley-Thomas, | | | | |Rodriguez, Santiago, | | | | |Steinorth, Thurmond, | | | | |Waldron, Wood | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | | | | |Bloom, Bonta, | | | | |Calderon, Chang, | | | | |Nazarian, Eggman, | | | | |Gallagher, Eduardo | | SB 804 Page 2 | | |Garcia, Holden, | | | | |Jones, Quirk, Rendon, | | | | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY: Makes technical and conforming changes to specific sections of the Health and Safety Code and the Welfare and Institutions Code. Specifically, this bill: 1)Updates obsolete references to county mental health directors and county drug and alcohol program administrators by referring to them as county behavioral health directors and/or the County Behavioral Health Directors Association. 2)Requires the Department of Health Care Services to report to the Legislature with quarterly updates on caseload, estimated expenditures, and related program monitoring data for the Every Woman Counts Program. 3)Deletes references to a non-profit hospital service plan from inclusion as a fiscal intermediary, prepaid health plan, or group health coverage. 4)Makes technical changes to ensure individuals that can prove their homeless status are not subject to any fee when requesting a certified record of live birth. 5)Deletes the sunset date of the California Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII). SB 804 Page 3 6)Makes technical and conforming changes to employee group coverage disclosure requirements. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, annual costs of $3.7 million to extend indefinitely the operations of the CalOHII; minor and absorbable costs to the Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Insurance to verify health plan and insurer compliance with the updated requirement related to group health insurance; and unknown, potentially significant state costs for increased Medi-Cal enrollment. COMMENTS: According to the author, last year the Legislature decided unanimously to assist individuals enduring difficult times in their efforts to get back on their feet by not subjecting homeless adults or youth to a fee when requesting a certified record of live birth. The author states that nearly every government program or social service programs that these individuals so desperately need, require some form of identification, including a birth certificate. This bill will further clarify that homeless individuals are not subject to any surprise fees as they seek the documentation needed to access social services programs. The author also states that this bill will also extend the sunset date of the CalOHII indefinitely. CalOHII has focused on making confidential health information available in the most secure ways and the sunset date has continued to be extended. The author concludes that at a time when confidentiality, particularly of personal health information, is paramount, the work done by CalOHII will be needed in the immediate and distant future. SB 804 Page 4 The California State Association of Counties states in support that the merging of the organizations County Mental Health Directors Association and County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators Association of California is a reflection of the integration of the mental health and substance use disorder agencies at the county level and general understanding that these areas are often interdependent of each other and the people they serve. There is no known opposition to this bill. Analysis Prepared by: Paula Villescaz / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0001928