BILL NUMBER:  SB 1283
  VETOED	DATE: 09/30/2010




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 1283 without my signature.

I appreciate the author's dedication to working in a collaborative
and constructive manner to try and address this highly-emotional
issue with advocates, families and patients.  My Administration has
also worked with these stakeholders to improve the delivery system
for the diagnosis and treatment of autism.  Over the past two years,
the Department of Managed Health Care (Department) has placed a
significant focus on autism treatment benefits resulting in more
timely evaluations, comprehensive treatment plans, coordinated
services, and, when necessary, enforcement actions against licensed
health plans.

Notwithstanding all this progress, I cannot support this particular
bill because it is overbroad in its application and would affect all
of the Department's grievance procedures.  Since the Department
currently resolves 95% of its annual grievance caseload within 30
days, I do not believe this bill is necessary and may actually lead
to longer delays due to some of the bill's provisions.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger