Government Relations Update

By Rebecca Gonzales, Director of Government Relations and Political Affairs

The Legislative session has ended for the year and the Governor has signed or vetoed all bills that reached his desk. Of the bills we supported, 77 reached the Governor’s desk and he vetoed 13 and signed 64. That is a success rate of 83 percent! Below is an update of some key bills that we have supported or opposed this year.

LOBBY DAY BILLS

SB 3 (Leno) Minimum Wage — Gradually raises the minimum wage to $13 an hour by July 2017. After January 2019, the minimum wage will be indexed to inflation.

Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee but we do expect to see a ballot measure on this topic next year that could raise the wage to $15 an hour.

SB 4 (Lara) Healthcare 4 All — The Governor’s final budget included funding for Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented minors. This bill was amended to implement this expansion. The other provisions of SB 4 were amended into SB 10, which will be heard in 2016. These provisions allow undocumented adults who are income ineligible for Medi-Cal to purchase their own health insurance under Covered California without subsidies if the state secures a waiver from the federal government. SB 10 also extends eligibility for either limited scope or full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to income eligible undocumented adults if there is sufficient funding in the budget.

Status: Signed by the Governor.

SB 23 (Mitchell) Maximum Family Grant — Eliminates the Maximum Family Grant in CalWORKs. NOTE: The Legislature had supported this policy in the budget but it was removed from the final budget deal that the Governor signed. Advocates are still advocating for this bill to apply additional pressure on the Governor to support this policy.

Status: This bill is on the inactive file but we do expect it to be heard in 2016.

OTHER SUPPORT BILLS

AB 47 (McCarty) — Expands the state preschool program to all low income families who do not have access to one year of preschool or to transitional kindergarten contingent on funding in the budget.

Status: Vetoed by the Governor.

AB 348 (Brown) — Establishes new timelines for investigating abuse and neglect reported at nursing homes.

Status: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 622 (R. Hernandez) — Expands instances when it is unlawful for an employer to use the E-Verify system to confirm the immigration status of a worker.

Status: Signed by the Governor.

AB 830 (Eggman) — This bill applies existing law remedies for victims of gender-related violence to victims of sexual orientation-based violence. Also defines “gender” in accordance with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, to include “gender expression” and “gender identity.”

Status: Signed by the Governor.

AB 1025 (Thurmond) — Establishes a pilot program to encourage inclusive practices that integrate mental health, special education and school climate interventions.

Status: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 11 (Beall) and SB 29 (Beall) — Increases police officer training in mental health.

Status: Signed by the Governor.

SB 124 (Leno) — Limits solitary confinement for youth in juvenile facilities.

Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 128 (Wolk)/AB X2 15 (Eggman) — End of Life Options Act modeled after Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act which allows for an adult, who is mentally competent, terminally-ill, and in the final stages of their disease progression, to request a drug from a physician to bring about a peaceful death. After SB 128 stalled in Assembly Health Committee, it became AB X2 15 (Eggman).

Status: Signed by the Governor.

SB 196 (Hancock) — Provides for elder abuse restraining orders for elders unable to advocate for themselves.

Status: Signed by the Governor.

SB 238 (Mitchell), SB 253 (Monning), SB 484 (Beall) — Protects against the overuse of psychotropic medications for foster youth.

Status: SB 238 and SB 484 were signed by the Governor. SB 253 is on the inactive file.

OPPOSE BILLS

AB 858 (Wood) — Would have included a marriage and family therapist (MFT) within those health care professionals covered under the definition of a “visit” at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) thereby making it easier to hire MFTs.

Status: The Governor vetoed this bill (thanks in part to the advocacy of our members!).

For a full list of the bills we are following click here: www.legisweb.com/app/pkgs/myInfo/MyInfo.asp?memberId=rebecca&memberCode=210296226&dataSet=bills&cmd=get&showCategories=yes&startIndex=1&itemsPerPage=10000&format=html