BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                          AB 673 (J. Perez and Lara)
          
          Hearing Date: 6/27/2011         Amended: 6/1/2011
          Consultant: Katie Johnson       Policy Vote: Health 6-3
          _________________________________________________________________
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: AB 673 would require the Office of Multicultural 
          Health (OMH) within the California Department of Public Health 
          (CDPH) to consider the health care needs of lesbian, gay, 
          bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities in performing its 
          duties.
          _________________________________________________________________
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
           Major Provisions         2011-12      2012-13       2013-14     Fund
           Staff to perform new   $30        $60         $60       General
          duties related to
          LGBT communities                              
          _________________________________________________________________
          ____
          STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the 
          Suspense File.
          
          Existing law establishes the Office of Multicultural Health 
          (OMH) and requires it to, for the state's diverse ethnic and 
          racial communities, on behalf of the California Department of 
          Public Health and the Department of Health Care Services:

             1)   develop strategic plans and goals to close the gaps in 
               health status and access to care;
             2)   conduct policy analysis related to multicultural health;
             3)   coordinate state-funded pilot and planning projects that 
               would improve the effectiveness of services;
             4)   communicate and disseminate relevant information;
             5)   act as a liaison within the departments to providers of 
               health, social, educational, and support services for these 
               communities;
             6)   consult with representatives of the respective 
               communities, perform internal staff training, assess 
               internal staff cultural competency, and train health care 
               professionals to ensure more culturally and linguistically 
               competent care;
             7)   serve as a resource for ensuring that programs keep data 








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               and information regarding ethnic and racial health 
               strategies that address multicultural health issues;
             8)   encourage innovative responses by public and private 
               entities attempting to address multicultural health issues;
             9)   provide technical assistance;
             10)   prepare a biennial report to the Legislature on the 
               office's activities.

          This bill would require OMH to additionally perform the above 
          duties as they relate to LGBT communities. There would be an 
          ongoing annual cost of $60,000 for half a staff position to 
          conduct the new duties commencing January 1, 2012. To the extent 
          that OMH's efforts related to this bill increase access and the 
          number of services provided to LGBT communities by public health 
          care programs, including the Medi-Cal program, there could be 
          increased state General Fund, local funds, and federal funds 
          costs. Medi-Cal costs are shared 50 percent General Fund and 50 
          percent federal funds.