Healthcare

The Pharmacy Law requires the California State Board of Pharmacy within the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate the practice of pharmacy, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacies. The Pharmacy Law authorizes the board, during a declared federal, state, or local emergency, to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law or the regulations adopted pursuant to it, if, in the board's opinion, the waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. Existing law authorizes the board to elect to continue to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law for up to 90 days following the termination of a declared public emergency if, in the board's opinion, the continued waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. This bill would instead authorize the board to elect to continue to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law for up to 120 days following the termination of a declared emergency.

Existing law, the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act, defines and regulates consumer credit reports and consumer credit reporting agencies. The act prohibits a consumer credit reporting agency from making any consumer credit report containing specified items of information, including information about medical debt, as defined. Existing law prohibits a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using medical debt listed on the report as a negative factor when making a credit decision. This bill would prohibit a consumer credit reporting agency from making a consumer credit report containing information about the sale of property that is located in an area where the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency due to a natural disaster and the property is rendered uninhabitable as a result of the natural disaster. The bill would prohibit a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using the sale of an aforementioned property listed on the report as a negative factor when making a credit decision.

Existing law, the California Healthy Youth Act, requires school districts, charter schools, county boards of education, county superintendents of schools, the California School for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education, as specified. The act requires that instruction to include, among other things, information about the effectiveness and safety of all federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -approved contraceptive methods in preventing pregnancy, including, but not limited to, emergency contraception, and requires instruction on pregnancy to include an objective discussion of all legally available pregnancy outcomes, including, but not limited to, parenting, adoption, and abortion. This bill would require the discussion of adoption to include a comprehensive explanation of, and information on, the types of adoption, the rights of a placing birth parent, and specific local adoption resources and support. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

This measure would designate the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Family Physician Week, recognize the invaluable contributions of family physicians to California's health care system, and encourage continued investment in primary care to strengthen the family medicine workforce.

House Resolution 9 designates March 15, 2025, as Long COVID Awareness Day in California. The resolution highlights Long COVID - a condition involving persistent symptoms like fatigue and cognitive issues after initial COVID-19 infection - and urges public education, support for affected individuals, and continued vaccination efforts. It does not create new laws or requirements but serves as a symbolic recognition to foster awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage community engagement around Long COVID challenges. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on March 13, 2025.