BILL NUMBER: AB 2317	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 18, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Koretz
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Berg   and Lieu   ) 

                        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
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 workgroup, which would be
required, 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 workgroup 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fact, in which case these provisions would be repealed on January 1,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 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 
    (a)     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) 
    (b)  Establish an Internet Web site devoted to providing
information about the symptoms and treatment of PMAD that is
accessible to the general public.  
   (3) 
    (c)  Undertake public education activities related to
PMAD, as appropriate.  
   (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 workgroup to develop
recommendations on the most efficient and effective ways to raise
public awareness of the symptoms, warning signs, and treatment of
PMAD. The workgroup shall also be responsible for securing private
contributions to fund the campaign. The workgroup may include  a
survivor of PMAD, and  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.  
   (7) The California Nurses Association. 
   (b) By January 1, 2008, the workgroup 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 workgroup 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.