BILL NUMBER: AB 2900	CHAPTERED  09/30/00

	CHAPTER   945
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 29, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 28, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gallegos
   (Principal coauthors:  Assembly Members Hertzberg and Thomson)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Corbett, Firebaugh, Kuehl, Vincent,
Wayne, Wesson, and Wildman)

                        MARCH 14, 2000

   An act to add Section 14005.25 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to health care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2900, Gallegos.   Medi-Cal:  eligibility.
   Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the
State Department of Health Services, under which health care
services are provided to qualified low-income persons.
   Existing federal law contains various federal requirements and
optional provisions that govern the Medi-Cal program.
   This bill would, to the extent that federal financial
participation is available, require the department to implement a
federal option to extend continuous eligibility to children 19 years
of age and younger, as described.
   Because each county is required to administer Medi-Cal eligibility
requirements, the bill would, by expanding Medi-Cal eligibility,
impose a state-mandated local program.
  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund
to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide
and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed
$1,000,000.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 14005.25 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   14005.25.  (a) To the extent federal financial participation is
available, the department shall exercise the option under Section
1902(e)(12) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a
(e)(12)) to extend continuous eligibility to children 19 years of age
and younger.  A child shall remain eligible pursuant to this
subdivision from the date of a determination of eligibility for
Medi-Cal benefits until the earlier of either:
   (1) The end of a 12-month period following the eligibility
determination.
   (2) The date the individual exceeds the age of 19 years.
   (b) This section shall be implemented only if, and to the extent
that, federal financial participation is available.
   (c) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of
Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the
department shall, without taking regulatory action, implement this
section by means of all county letters or similar instructions.
Thereafter, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with
the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of
Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
  SEC. 2.  Notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains
costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and
school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7
(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Government Code.  If the statewide cost of the claim for
reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000),
reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.