BILL ANALYSIS
SB 249
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Date of Hearing: July 8, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
SB 249 (Cox) - As Amended: April 27, 2009
Policy Committee: Health Vote:16-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California Department of Public Health
(DPH) to develop information about meningococcal disease
(meningitis) and vaccination that specifically addresses
information pertaining to children 11 to 18 years of age by
April 1, 2010.
FISCAL EFFECT
No direct fiscal impact assuming the information DPH currently
has posted on their web site meets the requirement of this bill.
If additional information needed to be developed, a one-time
federal funds cost of $20,000-$30,000 will be incurred.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill is sponsored by Sanofi-Pasteur, the
manufacturer of Menactra, which was licensed for bacterial
meningitis vaccination of individuals 11 to 55 years of age in
2005. The company specifically markets Menactra for adolescent
vaccination through print and television advertising. The
federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
recommends routine vaccination for youth 11 to 18 years old.
2)Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the
membranes around the brain and spinal cord. The illness is
infectious and can be spread from one person to another
through coughing and sneezing. Viral meningitis is very common
and can cause prolonged fevers and seizures but is rarely
fatal. Bacterial meningitis is much less common and very
serious, resulting in brain damage, hearing loss, and death.
Meningitis occurs most often in children and young adults.
SB 249
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Symptoms include a stiff neck, fever, vomiting, and seizures.
Meningitis is often diagnosed through a spinal tap which
removes fluid from the spine. The fluid is then tested to see
if it contains the organisms that cause the illness.
3)Concerns . The DPH is opposed to this bill because the
activities required by the bill are already authorized and
executed under current law and therefore unnecessary. Earlier
legislation by the author, AB 1452 (Cox), Chapter 372,
Statutes of 2001, required DPH to develop meningitis
information and make it available to secondary and
postsecondary schools. All the materials developed are
currently available for download on the DPH website.
Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081