BILL NUMBER: AB 1595	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 5, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones

                        JANUARY 4, 2010

    An act relating to health care reform.   An
act to add Section 14005.60 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to Medi-Cal. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1595, as amended, Jones.  Health care reform. 
 Medi-Cal: eligibility. 
   Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the
State Department of Health Care Services, under which basic health
care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. The
Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid
provisions.  
   This bill, commencing January 1, 2014, to the extent required by
federal law, would provide that a person who meets all other
applicable eligibility requirements shall be eligible for benefits
under the Medi-Cal program if his or her income does not exceed 133%
of the federal poverty level.  
   Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility
determinations and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the
bill would 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.  
   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.  
   Existing law does not provide a system of universal health care
coverage for California residents. Existing law provides for the
creation of various programs to provide health care services to
persons who have limited incomes and meet various eligibility
requirements. These programs include the Healthy Families Program
administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and the
Medi-Cal program administered by the State Department of Health Care
Services. Existing law provides for the regulation of health care
service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and health
insurers by the Department of Insurance.  
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would implement federal health care reform in this
state. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 14005.60 is added to the 
 Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:  
   14005.60.  (a) Effective January 1, 2014, to the extent required
by federal law, a person who meets all other applicable eligibility
requirements shall be eligible for benefits under this chapter if his
or her income does not exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty
level.
   (b) Subdivision (a) shall not be construed to limit the
eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits as authorized by any other
provision of law. 
   SEC. 2.    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.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would implement federal health care reform
in this state.