BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 442
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 17, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   SB 442 (Calderon) - As Amended:  April 26, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                             HealthVote:13-6

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill increases the specificity of current hospital 
          licensure requirements related to the provision of medical 
          interpreters.  Specifically, this bill:

          1)Requires a hospital's policy to include procedures for 
            discussing cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs or 
            practices that may influence care.

          2)Requires hospitals to review the standards for health care 
            interpreting industry for the purposes of incorporating 
            industry improvements or certification standards for 
            interpreters.

          3)Requires hospitals to take reasonable steps to assess whether 
            interpreters demonstrate sufficient proficiency in 
            communication.   

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible direct state fiscal impact.  

           COMMENTS  

           Rationale  . According to the author, professionally trained 
          medical interpreters and policies to increase the ability of 
          hospital staff to respond to unique cultural needs will help to 
          ensure that patients who require on-site medical interpreters 
          are provided the appropriate care.  This bill is intended to 
          improve the patient experience and the effectiveness of 
          communication between medical providers and their patients.









                                                                  SB 442
                                                                  Page  2

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081