BILL NUMBER: AB 2280	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  771
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 22, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 28, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 15, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 25, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Leno

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2006

   An act to amend Section 120582 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2280, Leno  Sexually transmitted diseases.
   Existing law permits a physician or nurse practitioner, who
diagnoses a sexually transmitted chlamydia infection, to prescribe,
dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs
to that patient's sexual partner or partners without examination of
that patient's partner or partners.
   This bill would extend these provisions to cover gonorrhea or
other sexually transmitted disease infection, as determined by the
department.


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


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in California have been
increasing in recent years and newly reported in 2005 there were
130,700 infections of chlamydia, 34,400 infections of gonorrhea,
6,500 infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 3,300 cases
of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and 1,600 infections of
syphilis.
   (b) Public health officials employ a variety of methods to control
STD infections, including preventing infections from occurring and
treating patients after exposure to an STD.
   (c) Patient-delivered therapy for chlamydia was authorized in
California by Chapter 835 of the Statutes of 2000 (Senate Bill 648,
Ortiz) and enables qualified medical practitioners to provide
prescription antibiotic drugs to a patient's sexual partner or
partners without examination of that patient's partner or partners.
   (d) Since enactment of patient-delivered therapy for chlamydia
published studies have documented that the rate of persistent or
recurrent infections of gonorrhea also can be reduced by utilizing
patient-delivered therapy for sexual partners.
   (e) Patient-delivered therapy for gonorrhea is safe and effective
when provided with appropriate instruction, and has recently been
recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
   (f) It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize qualified
medical practitioners to provide patient-delivered therapy to the
sexual partners of patients diagnosed with gonorrhea in order to
reduce persistent and recurrent infections.
  SEC. 2.  Section 120582 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
   120582.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
physician and surgeon who diagnoses a sexually transmitted chlamydia,
gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infection, as determined by
the department, in an individual patient may prescribe, dispense,
furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs to that
patient's sexual partner or partners without examination of that
patient's partner or partners. The department may adopt regulations
to implement this section.
   (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nurse
practitioner pursuant to Section 2836.1 of the Business and
Professions Code, a certified nurse-midwife pursuant to Section
2746.51 of the Business and Professions Code, and a physician
assistant pursuant to Section 3502.1 of the Business and Professions
Code may dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription
antibiotic drugs to the sexual partner or partners of a patient with
a diagnosed sexually transmitted chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other
sexually transmitted infection, as determined by the department,
without examination of the patient's sexual partner or partners.