Healthcare

Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including the Medical Board of California and the Dental Board of California, that license and regulate various healing arts licensees. Existing law, including the Medical Practice Act and the Dental Practice Act, deem certain violations by licensees to be unprofessional conduct subject to discipline by the licensee's licensing board. Existing law requires a physician and surgeon or dentist to refund to a patient any amount paid by the patient for services rendered that was subsequently paid to the physician and surgeon or dentist by a third-party payor and that constitutes a duplicate payment, as prescribed. Existing law requires that the above-described duplicate payment refund be paid, if requested by the patient, either within 30 days of that request or, if the duplicate payment has not been received, within 30 days of receipt of the duplicate payment by the physician and surgeon or dentist. Existing law requires, if the patient does not request a refund, a physician and surgeon or dentist who knows, or should have known, of the receipt of the duplicate payment to notify the patient, as prescribed, and to refund the payment within 30 days of that notification, except as specified. Existing law makes a violation of the above requirements unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary proceedings as described above. This bill would reduce the duration for a physician and surgeon or dentist to refund a duplicate payment following patient request or patient notification to 21 days.

This bill designates June 2026 as Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month to highlight information about the virus. It directly affects public health officials, healthcare providers, and community organizations who may organize events or distribute educational materials during this time. The primary mechanism is a formal declaration that establishes the specific month for this awareness campaign. The measure does not alter laws or funding but serves to recognize the importance of the issue through official state recognition.

This bill designates May 2026 as Behavioral Health Awareness Month in California. It directs state agencies to acknowledge this month, likely through proclamations or public awareness campaigns. The measure does not change funding, laws, or services but serves to highlight the importance of mental and behavioral health.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacies by the California State Board of Pharmacy, and makes a violation of the Pharmacy Law a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit a pharmacy from engaging in the retail sale of cigarettes or tobacco products. Because a violation of this provision would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law, the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2023, requires a retailer to hold a license from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to engage in the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products for each retail location. Existing law requires the department to issue a license to a retailer upon receipt of a completed application and payment of required fees, unless certain circumstances apply. This bill would prohibit the department from issuing a license to a retailer if the retailer is a pharmacy or the application is for a retail location that contains a pharmacy. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

This bill designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Youth Mental Health Awareness Week in California. It directly affects state officials and the public by officially recognizing this specific time period to highlight mental health issues among young people. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to raise awareness through an official state designation. Once enacted, this resolution allows for public events and discussions focused on youth mental health during the specified dates.

This bill designates May 2026 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month to highlight the importance of recognizing and preventing the disease. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a formal proclamation to encourage public education and awareness during that time. The measure directly affects state officials and the general public by setting aside a specific month for focus on Lyme disease prevention.

This bill designates the week of May 11 to May 15, 2026, as Student Mental Health Awareness Week throughout California. The measure requires state agencies and institutions to acknowledge this specific timeframe to highlight the importance of student mental well-being. By officially recognizing these dates, the legislation aims to encourage public focus on mental health resources for students during that period. It does not allocate funding or mandate specific programs, but rather serves to raise awareness through formal designation.

This measure would recognize May 4, 2026, to May 8, 2026, inclusive, and every first week of May thereafter, as Black Health Equity Advocacy Week, and commend the California Black Health Network and other organizations throughout the state for their efforts to improve the health, well-being, and life expectancy of Black Californians.

This bill designates May 2026 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight the importance of mental health support for mothers. It is a non-binding resolution that does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to raise public awareness through official proclamation. The measure affects the state by encouraging community focus on this topic during the designated month without imposing new requirements on individuals or organizations.

This measure would, among other things, recognize antimicrobial resistance as a public health crisis requiring urgent and sustained action and urge specified state agencies to explore available funding mechanisms to support research and development initiatives addressing antimicrobial resistance, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities.