BILL NUMBER: AB 2354	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 8, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2354, as amended, V. Manuel Perez. Community Health Workers:
Promotores.
   Existing law establishes training and certification programs for
various healing arts professionals including, among others, nurses,
midwives, occupational therapists, dietitians, and social workers.
   This bill would  state the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation that would prepare California to receive and use
various federal health care funding to prepare, train, promote, and
expand the work of community health workers, as specified. 
 require the State Department of Public Health, in consultation
with the University of California, to establish a technical advisory
committee to study the creation of a framework for a promotores
development program, as specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  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) Community Health Workers (CHWs), also known as promotores,
peer leaders, or health advocates, serve as a bridge between the
community and the public health care system, providing health
education and prevention information and resources in a manner that
is culturally and linguistically appropriate. CHWs 
    (a)     Promotores, also known as Community
Health Workers (CHWs), peer leaders,   or health advocates,
serve as a bridge between the community and the public and private
health care system, providing health education, health promotion,
prevention, informational counseling, and referral information, as
well as resources in a manner that is culturally and linguistically
appropriate. Promotores  function as cultural brokers who
possess a unique understanding of those, often difficult-to-reach,
communities they serve.
   (b) According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, integrating promotores and community health workers into
health programs has been associated with improvements in access to
health care, prenatal care, pregnancy and birth outcomes, client
health status, health- and screening-related behaviors, 
community health,  and reduced health care costs. 
   (c) Federal efforts to address healthcare affordability and
accessibility have identified the community health worker and
promotores model as an effective practice and have committed
financial support to help implement the model. In fact, current
federal legislative efforts include funding for CHWs and promotores.
 
   (d) The Legislature recognizes and applauds the contributions of
CHWs with regard to community health and well-being, and
cost-effective prevention. Currently, however, California does not
have a statewide certification or any training specific to becoming
or working as a promotora or community health worker. 

   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that
would prepare California to receive and use federal health care
funding, including, but not limited to, health prevention, outreach,
and education funding, to prepare, train, promote, and expand the
work of promotores, including in community health clinics and county
public health departments, throughout the state.  
   (c) Federal efforts to address health care affordability,
accessibility, and use have identified the promotores model as an
effective practice and have committed financial support to help
implement the model. Current federal legislative efforts include
funding and support for programs that could employ promotores on a
broad scale.  
   (d) The Legislature recognizes and applauds the contributions of
promotores toward improving community health and well-being,
advocacy, and cost-effective prevention. Currently, however,
California does not have a statewide certification or standardized
training to certify the status of promotores.  
   (e) As increased federal public health funding becomes available
to California, specifically for the increased use of promotores and
for programs that employ promotores, it is incumbent upon the state
to have a comprehensive assessment of the current use of and funding
for promotores. This should include the feasibility of a promotores
development program, and a multiphased strategy for implementing a
program to set standards, train, evaluate, promote, and expand the
work of promotores, in community health clinics and local public
health departments, community-based organizations, research
institutions, and other public and private entities throughout the
state. 
   SEC. 2.    The State Department of Public Health, in
consultation with the University of California, shall establish a
technical advisory committee to study the creation of a framework for
a promotores development program. The committee shall advise the
department, the Governor, and the Legislature regarding its findings
and recommendations. The committee shall use federal funding,
including, but not limited to, funding from the United States
Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, and the Health Resources and Services
Administration, to support the development of the study.