BILL NUMBER: AB 2317 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2006
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Koretz
FEBRUARY 22, 2006
An act to add and repeal Article 1.6 (commencing with Section
123259) of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to maternal health, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2317, as amended, Koretz Postpartum mood and anxiety
disorders.
Under existing law, the maternal and child health program includes
provisions for pregnancy testing, perinatal health care, child
health, and nutrition.
This bill would require the State Department of Health Services to
create a conduct the Perinatal Mood
and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) Awareness Campaign to increase awareness
and provide education to pregnant women and new mothers on
postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum
depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
postpartum psychosis, as specified. The bill would require the
department to convene a work group, which would be required,
not later than by June 1, 2008, to prepare and
submit to the department specified recommendations relating to the
implementation of the awareness campaign.
The bill would authorize the department to use nonpublic
sources of funding to support the activities of the work group and
fund the campaign. The bill would require that voluntary funds
received for the purposes of this bill be deposited into the
Community Postpartum Anxiety and Awareness Campaign Fund, which the
bill would create, and would continuously appropriate the moneys in
the fund to the department to implement the awareness campaign.
The bill would further provide that if the Department of Finance
determines that insufficient voluntary contributions for purposes of
implementing these provisions have been deposited with the state by
January 1, 2008, the Department of Finance shall notify either the
Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate of this
fact, in which case these provisions would be repealed on January 1,
2008.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders occur during pregnancy,
as well as during the postpartum period. These disorders can take
many forms, including depression, anxiety disorders, such as panic
disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis. Therefore,
it is appropriate to use the broader, more accurate term of
"perinatal mood and anxiety disorders" to describe the many levels
and severities of these afflictions, which can have potentially
serious repercussions for the emotional, social, and physical health
and well-being of mothers, children, and families.
(b) Studies have shown that up to 80 percent of women around the
world will experience an emotional change after giving birth, a
normal postpartum adjustment known as "baby blues."
(c) Between 10 and 20 percent of new mothers are affected by
perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and may experience symptoms,
including, but not limited to, depressed mood, inability to find
pleasure in usually engaging activities, sleep disturbances,
diminished concentration, appetite and weight loss, anxiety and panic
attacks, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, and
fears about hurting their baby.
(d) One to two out of every 1,000 new mothers can experience
postpartum psychosis, which may begin with manic states,
hyperactivity, an inability to sleep, and avoidance of the baby, and
may lead to delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, and thoughts of
harming their baby or themselves.
(e) A past history of nonpostpartum mood or anxiety disorder and a
family history of mood or anxiety disorder increases the risk of
postpartum mood or anxiety disorders.
(f) Many women are not adequately informed about, screened for,
and treated for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders or psychotic
disorders because they are uninsured or underinsured and lack access
to comprehensive health care. Many of these women also face cultural
and linguistic barriers. Great numbers of at-risk women may not get
help because if they are not informed
about perinatal mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders as part of
their health care, and because they are unaware of, or unable to
access, or due to the stigma have difficulty accepting the need
for services and treatment for perinatal mood disorders, which
can include medical evaluations and treatment, professional therapy,
counseling, support groups, and crisis hotlines. It is also
imperative that family and friends of a pregnant woman or new mother
become aware of the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety
disorders so that they may help her to obtain adequate medical
treatment and support services.
SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
that would raise awareness regarding postpartum mood and anxiety
disorders. The Legislature further recognizes that these disorders
can affect all categories of mothers, regardless of their age, race,
or income level, have a profound effect on families everywhere, and
are very treatable with medication and therapy, or both.
SEC. 3. Article 1.6 (commencing with Section 123259) is added to
Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Article 1.6. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Community
Awareness Campaign
123259. (a) The department shall conduct the Perinatal Mood and
Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) Community Awareness Campaign to do all of
the following:
(1) To provide awareness, assistance, and information regarding
PMAD using television, print media, radio, Internet Web sites,
outdoor advertising, and other media, where appropriate, to
disseminate information to pregnant women and new mothers regarding
the availability of services and treatment for PMAD, which may
include medication, professional therapy and counseling, support
groups, and telephone crisis hotlines.
(2) Establish an Internet Web site devoted to providing
information about the symptoms and treatment of PMAD that is
accessible to the general public.
(3) Undertake public education activities related to PMAD, as
appropriate.
(b) The department shall adopt regulations to provide guidelines
for the implementation and administration of this article.
(c)
(b) To the extent feasible and appropriate, the
campaign shall be incorporated into existing mental health awareness
programs implemented by the department.
123259.1. (a) The department shall convene a work group to
develop recommendations on the most efficient and effective ways to
raise public awareness of the symptoms, warning signs, and treatment
of PMAD. The work group shall also be responsible for securing
private contributions to fund the campaign. The department
may use nonpublic sources of funding to support the activities of the
work group and fund the campaign, such as funding provided by
professional organizations and advocacy groups, including, but not
limited to, The work group may include members from
all of the following:
(1) The California Medical Association.
(2) The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
(3) The California Psychiatric Association.
(4) Postpartum Support International.
(5) The California Hospital Association.
(6) The California Psychological Association.
(b) Not later than By January 1,
2008, the work group shall prepare and submit to the department its
recommendations relating to the PMAD campaign.
(c) The department may use nonpublic sources of funding to
support the activities of the work group and to fund the campaign.
Voluntary contributions received for the purposes of this
article shall be deposited into the Community Postpartum Anxiety and
Mood Disorders Awareness Campaign Fund, which is hereby created in
the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government
Code, moneys in the fund are hereby continuously appropriated to the
department to implement this article.
123259.2. (a) This article shall be implemented only after the
Department of Finance determines that nonstate funds in an amount
sufficient to fully support the activities of this article have been
deposited with the state. Thereafter, this article shall continue to
be implemented only to the extent that the Department of Finance
determines that sufficient nonstate funds to fully support the
activities of this article have been deposited with the state for
purposes of this article.
(b) If the Department of Finance determines that insufficient
voluntary contributions for purposes of implementing this article
have been deposited with the state by January 1, 2008, the Department
of Finance shall notify either the Chief Clerk of the Assembly or
the Secretary of the Senate of this fact, in which case, upon the
making of their notification, this article shall remain in effect
only until January 1, 2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a
later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008,
deletes or extends that date.