Prior Priority Legislation

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Pellerin

Date: 04/18/2024

This bill would instead require the records, books, and papers of a health care service plan and other specified entities to be open to inspection by the director, including through electronic means. The bill would require a plan and other specified entities to furnish in electronic media records, books, and papers that are possessed in electronic media and to conduct a diligent review of records, books, and papers and make every effort to furnish those responsive to the director’s request. The bill would require records, books, and papers to be furnished in a format that is digitally searchable, to the greatest extent feasible. The bill would authorize the director to inspect and copy these records, books, and papers, and to seek relief in an administrative law proceeding if, in the director’s determination, a plan or other specified entity fails to fully or timely respond to a duly authorized request for production of records, books, and papers. Because a willful violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Pellerin

Date: 04/18/2024

This bill would require that utilization review decisions be made within 72 hours when an enrollee’s condition is urgent, and would make a determination of urgency by a referring or treating health care provider binding on the health care service plan. If a health care service plan fails to make a utilization review decision within the applicable 72-hour or 30-day timeline, the bill would automatically entitle an enrollee to proceed with a grievance. This bill would require a plan’s grievance system to include expedited review of urgent grievances and would make a determination of urgency by a referring or treating health care provider binding on the health care service plan. The bill would require a plan to communicate its final grievance determination within 72 hours of receipt if urgent and 30 days if nonurgent. If a plan fails to make a utilization review decision within the applicable 72-hour or 30-day timeline, the bill would require a grievance to be automatically resolved in favor of the enrollee. This bill would require the department to provide specified correspondence and documents to an enrollee and their representative, if applicable, if the enrollee has submitted a grievance for review under the Independent Medical Review System. The bill would require the department to provide an enrollee and their representative a reasonable opportunity to respond to communications between the department and the plan or the independent review organization before the grievance is adjudicated. The bill would prohibit the department and its independent medical review organization from engaging in ex parte communication with a plan, enrollee, or their representatives during the grievance process. If a grievance is filed internally with an insurer, this bill would require an insurer to communicate its final grievance determination within 72 hours of receipt if urgent and 30 days if nonurgent. Upon notice from the department to a disability insurer that an insured has submitted a grievance to the department, the bill would require an insurer to respond within 24 hours, if directed by the department, regarding an urgent grievance or within 5 calendar days regarding a nonurgent grievance.This bill would require the department to determine whether or not a grievance is urgent unless the insured’s referring or treating provider has already designated the grievance as urgent. The bill would require the department to provide specified correspondence and documents to an insured and their representative, if applicable, if the insured has submitted a grievance for review under the Independent Medical Review System. The bill would require the department to provide an insured and their representative a reasonable opportunity to respond to communications between the department and the insurer or the independent review organization before the grievance is adjudicated. The bill would prohibit the department and its independent medical review organization from engaging in ex parte communication with an insurer, insured, or their representatives during the grievance process, except as specified.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Wiener

Date: 06/22/2025

The existing law allows individuals, including those under 18, to petition the court for a change of gender and sex identifier, and possibly a name change at the same time. Currently, if a petitioner is under 18, their records are kept confidential, limiting access to the minor, their parents, and their attorney. The new bill extends these confidentiality protections to all ages and includes proceedings under different name change regulations. It also enforces restrictions on public posting of confidential records by anyone other than the petitioner and considers any violations an injury. Upon violation, the bill allows individuals or entities to seek legal remedies for enforcement, including injunctive or declaratory relief and mandates awarding attorney's fees and costs to prevailing plaintiffs in such cases. Additionally, petitioners harmed by unauthorized disclosures can file civil actions for damages and legal fees. The Judicial Council must develop relevant forms and rules by July 1, 2026. This bill emphasizes the privacy rights of transgender individuals by protecting their intimate information. It includes legislative findings supporting its terms and asserts it as an urgency statute, taking effect immediately.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Grayson

Date: 06/22/2025

The existing law outlines how public postsecondary institutions and budgetary agencies provide services to students with disabilities, ensuring state-funded activities are directly related to students' verifiable disabilities. It mandates the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to establish regulations for funding specialized services to disabled students, covering excess costs that exceed specified budgets. The Student Aid Commission administers state financial aid programs for all postsecondary education. The new bill would amend the legislative intent by including costs for ongoing assessments and documentation to define specific disabilities and support academic accommodations.Starting July 1, 2027, the bill would require the California State University Trustees, and request the University of California Regents, to fund diagnostic assessments for learning disabilities for students receiving financial aid, unless covered by health insurance. State funds would cover actual costs, and institutions must document expenses to the Student Aid Commission, which would oversee reimbursements. Institutions must also advertise this financial support on their websites.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Wiener

Date: 04/18/2024

Under SB 294, denials will be filed automatically as grievances with health plans. Life-threatening/urgent denials and unresolved grievances will then be referred to the IMR process, without burdening consumers to fight for care. This bill will also strengthen SB 855, a mental health parity law which requires plans to provide medically necessary mental health treatment.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Becker

Date: 06/18/2025

The Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 oversees health care service plans through the Department of Managed Health Care and makes intentional violations a crime. Health insurers are regulated by the Department of Insurance, and both entities can conduct utilization reviews or management by licensed professionals to assess health service requests based on medical necessity. A new bill mandates that by July 1, 2026, these departments give guidelines to health plans and insurers to report statistics on prior authorization for health services, including approval rates. Plans and insurers must submit these reports by December 31, 2026. By July 1, 2027, health services with approval ratesof 90% or more will be identified and listed. By January 1, 2028, prior authorization will no longer be needed for these frequently approved services unless fraud or inappropriate care is detected. The impact of this change will be assessed and reported within four years. The provisions will terminate on January 1, 2034. Violations of this bill will be considered a crime, and while the bill does not require state reimbursement to local agencies, it establishes procedures for certain cost reimbursements.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Becker

Date: 06/18/2025

The bill proposes the creation of a Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program, managed by the State Department of Public Health, to expand health services for farmworkers in rural areas. It mandates the distribution of grants to partnerships of two community-based organizations to set up virtual health hubs, which will include computers, Wi-Fi, and telemedicine facilities. Priority for grants will go to organizations with a history of serving underserved communities. Grant recipients need to establish these hubs in two rural communities and report program details to the department. The program's implementation depends on accumulating at least $2,000,000 in the Virtual Health Hub Fund, without using General Fund money. Additionally, two years postimplementation, the department must report collected data to the Legislature. The provisions will be repealed once specified conditions are fulfilled.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Menjivar

Date: 06/18/2025

The Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 and existing laws regulate health care service plans and health insurers, while the Medi-Cal program provides health care to low-income individuals. Health plans can use utilization controls based on medical necessity, and they must provide cultural competency training, especially for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex individuals by March 2025. The proposed bill mandates health care plans and policies from a specified date to cover a 12-month supply of FDA approved hormone therapy prescribed by a network provider. It includes similar coverageunder Medi-Cal but exempts Medi-Cal managed care plans. The bill prohibits health care discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, including gender identity. Violations by health care plans would constitute a crime. Pharmacists must dispense up to a 12-month supply of FDA-approved hormone therapy or contraceptives upon request, unless exceptions apply. The bill does not require state reimbursement for local costs and will take effect immediately as an urgency statute. The provisions expire on January 1, 2035.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Menjivar

Date: 06/22/2025

The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, approved as Proposition 1, allows the issuance of $4 billion in bonds to fund various housing programs, including assistance for veterans' housing. In parallel, the state has the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention program, aiming to help communities address homelessness through grants for regional coordination and local capacity expansion based on best practices for transitioning people into permanent housing. This bill, the Youth Housing Bond Act of 2025, seeks to authorize an unspecified amount of bonds to fund a new Youth Housing Program. This program would enable the Department of Housing and Community Development to allocate funds to local agencies, nonprofits, and joint ventures for developing youth centers and housing. The bill would be presented to voters in the November 3, 2026, general election and is designed to take immediate effect as an urgent measure.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Wiener

Date: 06/22/2025

The text discusses a proposed bill related to the protection of gender-affirming healthcare and information privacy in California. The bill seeks to strengthen existing laws by prohibiting the issuance of subpoenas or sharing of medical information that could interfere with an individual's right to receive gender-affirming healthcare. It emphasizes not cooperating with out-of-state investigations based on laws that could criminalize such healthcare. Furthermore, the bill addresses the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES), proposing restrictions on sharing data from this system in support of legal actions based on other states' laws that could impose liability related to protected healthcare activities. Unauthorized access or sharing of CURES data would be criminalized. Additionally, the bill incorporates changes contingent on the enactment of another bill, AB 82, and specifies that no state reimbursement is required for its implementation. It declares itself as an urgency statute, effective immediately upon passing.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Rubio

Date: 06/22/2025

Existing law mandates that the curriculum for grades 1 to 6 includes specific study areas, such as health, and for grades 7 to 12, includes areas like English, social sciences, and mathematics. This bill proposes adding mental health education to the health curriculum for grades 1 to 6 and as a component for grades 7 to 12. The bill could require local educational agencies to take on additional responsibilities, which would qualify as a state-mandated local program. According to the California Constitution, if the state mandates costs, it must reimburse local agencies and school districts. The bill states that if the Commission on State Mandates identifies state-imposed costs, reimbursement will follow established legal procedures.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Wahab

Date: 06/22/2025

Current law mandates that law enforcement agencies consider certain best practices for handling body-worn camera data, including setting retention periods for recorded data. By July 1, 2026, this bill will require these agencies to update their body-worn camera policies to guide officers on when to temporarily limit recording during situations like medical or psychological evaluations that could embarrass patients. Additionally, these policy updates must include procedures for emergency personnel to request the redaction of recordings involving evaluations or treatments. This requirement will create a state-mandated local program, which mandates that the state reimburse local agencies for complying with these new requirements if the costs are determined to be state-mandated, as specified by the California Constitution and supporting statutory provisions.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Allen

Date: 06/22/2025

The Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 regulates health care service plans in California. It mandates that health care plans and health insurance policies include coverage for medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatments for individuals 25 years or younger when these services are delivered at school sites. The new bill expands the definition of a "schoolsite" to also include qualified youth drop-in centers, extending the coverage and reimbursement requirement to thesecenters as well. It applies to both private health plans and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. Violations related to these plans are criminal offenses. The bill does not require the state to reimburse local agencies or school districts for any costs associated with these provisions.

Read the Bill Check the Status

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Wiener

Date: 09/30/2022

Status: Passed

Health care service plans: discipline: civil penalties: Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law authorizes the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care to take disciplinary measures, including the imposition of civil penalties, against a licensee when the director determines that the licensee has committed an act or omission constituting grounds for disciplinary action. Under existing law, these civil penalties generally do not exceed $2500 per violation. Existing law also includes various provisions that assess specific civil and administrative penalties for certain violations. This bill would increase the base amount of the civil penalty to not less than $25,000 per violation, commencing January 1, 2024, which would be adjusted annually. The bill would multiply the amounts of other specified civil and administrative penalties by 4, commencing January 1, 2023 and would annually adjust those penalties. The bill would authorize the director to impose a corrective action plan to require future compliance with the act, under certain circumstances. If a health care service plan fails to comply with the corrective action plan in a timely manner, the bill would require the department to monitor the health care service plan through medical surveys, financial examinations, or other means necessary to ensure timely compliance.

Read the Bill

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Menjivar

Date: 04/22/2024

This bill would require the agency, or an entity designated by the agency, on or before July 1, 2025, to create an internet website where the public can access information and resources to support TGI individuals and their families in accessing trans-inclusive health care and other support services in the state, including, but not limited to, a general description of trans-inclusive health care, information on how to access directories of providers providing gender-affirming services, and resources for victims of hate incidents and hate crimes.The bill would require the agency to consult with specified subject matter experts and the Department of Justice in creating the internet website. The bill would also require the agency, in consultation with subject matter experts, to maintain the website and review the available information and resources to ensure the website is current and updated at reasonable intervals, but no less than once every 6 months.

Read the Bill Check the Status