BILL NUMBER: AB 540	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 24, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 29, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Pan

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2013

   An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 131230) to
Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 112 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to public health.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 540, as amended, Pan. Reporting and tracking of violent deaths.

   Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health,
which is responsible for various programs relating to the health and
safety of people in the state, including licensing health facilities,
regulating food and drug safety, and monitoring and preventing
communicable and chronic diseases.
   This bill would  require   authorize 
the department to establish and maintain the California Electronic
Violent Death Reporting System. The bill would further 
require   authorize  the department to collect data
on violent deaths, as specified, contract with county health
departments to collect certain data, and apply for grants to
implement these provisions. The bill would also make related
legislative findings and declarations.
   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.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Information and data regarding violent deaths can help provide
states and communities with a clearer understanding of violent
deaths and therefore lead to better prevention of violent deaths.
   (b) According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), in the United States, violence accounts for
approximately 51,000 deaths annually. Violent deaths result from the
intentional use of physical force or power against oneself, another
person, or a group or community, and include suicide, homicide, and
legal intervention deaths. Violence adversely affects all Americans,
not only through premature death, but also through medical costs and
lost productivity.
   (c) The CDC further notes that the cost of these deaths totaled
$47.2 billion: $47 billion in work loss costs and $215 million in
medical treatment.
   (d) In 2002, the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
was established as a surveillance system that pulls together data on
violent deaths. NVDRS collects information from death certificates,
coroner or medical examiner reports, police reports, and crime
laboratories.
   (e) NVDRS data informs decisionmakers and program planners about
the magnitude, trends, and characteristics of violent deaths in a
particular state or community so appropriate prevention efforts can
be identified and implemented, and the data facilitates the
evaluation of state-based prevention programs and strategies.
   (f) According to NVDRS, a national system will allow the CDC to
provide information for every state to inform their prevention
efforts. It will also ensure enhanced information on the national
scope of the problem of violent deaths is available to monitor and
track trends and to inform national efforts.
  SEC. 2.  Article 3 (commencing with Section 131230) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 112 of the Health and Safety Code, to
read:

      Article 3.  Electronic Violent Death Reporting System


   131230.  (a) The department  shall  may 
establish and maintain the California Electronic Violent Death
Reporting System.
   (b) The department  shall   may  collect
data on violent deaths as reported from data sources, including, but
not limited to, death certificates, law enforcement reports, and
coroner or medical examiner reports.
   (c) The department  shall   may 
contract with county health departments to collect the data specified
in subdivision (b).
   (d) The department  shall   may  apply
for grants provided under the National Violent Death Reporting System
of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for
purposes of implementing this section.
   (e) The department may accept private or foundation moneys to
implement this section.
   (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit data
sources that the department  is required to  
may  collect, which may include any public agency document that
may contain data on violent deaths.