BILL NUMBER: AB 916	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Ammiano   and Fuentes   ) 
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Leno
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 916, as amended, V. Manuel Pérez. Promotores: medically
underserved communities: federal grants.
   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 require the State Department of Public Health to
assess the grants to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes
available pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act for funding opportunities related to the use of promotores,
as defined, in medically underserved communities, and to report on
this assessment to the fiscal and health policy committees of the
Legislature by April 1, 2012, with recommendations for attaining and
maximizing federal funding.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  (a) The State Department of Public Health shall assess
the grants to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes
available pursuant to Section 399V of the federal Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) for funding
opportunities related to the use of promotores, also known as
community health workers, in medically underserved communities. The
department shall report on this assessment to the fiscal and health
policy committees of the Legislature by April 1, 2012, with
recommendations for attaining and maximizing federal funding.
   (b) The assessment made by the department pursuant to subdivision
(a) shall rely upon past research about the efficacy of promotores
and the department may not conduct new research.
   (c) For purposes of this section, "promotores" means promotores de
salud, also known as community health workers, peer leaders, or
health advocates, who serve as a bridge between the community and the
public health care system by providing health education, health
promotion, prevention, informational counseling and referral
information, as well as resources, in a manner that is culturally and
linguistically appropriate.
   (d)  (1)    The report to be submitted pursuant
to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795
of the Government Code. 
   (2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section shall remain in effect only until April 1, 2015, and as of
that date is repealed.