(1) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation by the State Department of Public Health of health care facilities, including long-term health care facilities, as defined. Existing law establishes procedures to be followed when the department receives a written or oral complaint about a long-term health care facility. A complaint is defined to mean any notice to the department, other than a report from the facility, of an alleged violation of applicable requirements of state or federal law or any alleged facts that might constitute a violation. This bill, on or before July 1, 2015, would require the department to set a performance benchmark for completing its investigations within a defined number of days after receiving the complaint, not to exceed 60 working days. The bill would require the department, if it extends an investigation beyond the number of days specified in the benchmark, to notify the complainant, in writing, of the basis for the extension. The bill would require, effective July 1, 2015, and upon request of the complainant, that the department provide specific findings concerning an alleged violation, and include a summary of the evidence upon which the determination is based. The bill would require the department to comply with those specified time periods established for investigations and inspections of complaints from a facility of an alleged violation of applicable requirements of state or federal law or any alleged facts that may constitute an alleged violation of these requirements. The bill would require the department to analyze its compliance with the benchmark in its annual system and staffing analysis, to make that analysis available to the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, and to post it on the department's Internet Web site. (2) Existing law provides the complainant with 5 business days after receipt of the notice of the department's determination in which to request an informal conference. This bill would, instead, provide the complainant with 15 days after receipt of the notice in which to request an informal conference.
Sponsored bills
This measure would request the Congress of the United States to, among other things, act immediately to avert federal spending cuts known as "sequestration" to protect the California and national economies.
This measure would designate Monday, May 5, 2014, as California Peace Officers' Memorial Day, urge all Californians to use that day to honor California peace officers, and recognize specified California peace officers who were killed in defense of their communities.
Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange that facilitates the purchase of qualified health plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers, and meets certain other requirements. PPACA specifies that an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States shall not be treated as a qualified individual and may not be covered under a qualified health plan offered through an exchange. Existing law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange for the purpose of facilitating the enrollment of qualified individual and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under PPACA. Existing law governs health care service plans and insurers. A violation of the provisions governing health care service plans is a crime. This bill would create the California Health Exchange Program for All Californians within state government and would require that the program be governed by the executive board that governs the California Health Benefit Exchange. The bill would specify the duties of the board relative to the program and would require the board to, by January 1, 2016, facilitate the enrollment into qualified health plans of individuals who are not eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage and would have been eligible to purchase coverage through the Exchange but for their immigration status. The bill would require the board to provide premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions to eligible individuals that are the same as the premium assistance and cost-sharing reductions the individuals would have received through the Exchange. The bill would create the California Health Trust Fund For All Californians as a continuously appropriated fund, thereby making an appropriation, would require the board to assess a charge on qualified health plans, and would make the implementation of the program's provisions contingent on a determination by the board that sufficient financial resources exist or will exist in the fund. The bill would enact other related provisions. The bill would require health care services plans and health insurers to fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell in the Exchange at least one product within each of 5 levels of coverage, as specified. Because a violation of the requirements imposed on health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. The federal Medicaid Program provisions prohibit payment to a state for medical assistance furnished to an alien who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law. This bill would extend eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who are otherwise eligible for those benefits but for their immigration status. The bill would require that benefits for those services be provided with state-only funds only if federal financial participation is not available. Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law vests in the State Department of Developmental Services jurisdiction over state hospitals referred to as developmental centers, including the Sonoma Developmental Center, for providing residential care to persons with developmental disabilities. Under existing law, if the department proposes the closure of a state developmental center, it is required to submit to the Legislature a detailed plan that contains certain information, including, among other things, a description of the land and buildings affected and existing lease arrangements at the developmental center. This bill would require that, prior to the development of any plan for, or implementation of, any sale, lease, transfer, or major change of use of any portion of the Sonoma Developmental Center, the department and the Department of General Services confer and cooperate with public and private entities in the development of an improvement and redevelopment plan for the center. The bill would authorize the plan to contain specified elements, including plans for the development of new or improved public or private core resident care facilities on the site, the permanent protection, maintenance, operation, and potential expansion of the wildlife habitat corridor through the property connecting Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas Mountain Range, the creation of public recreational facilities, and potential expansion of water supply facilities consistent with natural resource protection.
Existing law, the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law, makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale, any food that is misbranded. Food is misbranded if its labeling does not conform to specified state and federal labeling requirements regarding nutrition, nutrient content or health claims, and food allergens. Violation of this law is a misdemeanor. This bill, beginning January 1, 2016, would require that any food, except as provided, offered for retail sale in the state be considered misbranded if it is entirely or partially genetically engineered, as defined, and that fact is not disclosed in a specified manner. The bill would prescribe labeling requirements for a raw agricultural commodity that is genetically engineered and packaged foods, as defined, containing some products of genetic engineering. The bill would impose these labeling requirements on manufacturers and retailers, as defined, of the commodities and foods. Because this bill would create new crimes by expanding the number of foods that could potentially be misbranded, it 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1) Existing law, the Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2012, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $11,140,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a safe drinking water and water supply reliability program. Existing law provides for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election. This bill would repeal these provisions. (2) Under existing law, various measures have been approved by the voters to provide funds for water supply and protection facilities and programs. This bill would enact the Clean, Safe, and Reliable Drinking Water Act of 2014, which, if adopted by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $8,200,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a clean, safe, and reliable drinking water program. This bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of those provisions is a crime. Existing law establishes the State Department of State Hospitals and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the administration of state hospitals. This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations by January 1, 2016, that establish minimum, specific, and numerical licensed nursing staff-to-patient ratios by licensing classification and minimum, specific, and numerical ancillary staff-to-patient ratios for health facilities that are operated by the State Department of State Hospitals, as prescribed.
This measure would declare that the Legislature joins the County of Riverside in opposing base realignment and closure affecting the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, and March Air Reserve Base.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including water corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider, and authorizes the commission to implement, programs to provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers of a water corporation. Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development in state government and vests with the department various powers and authority regarding the implementation and administration of programs to assist low-income individuals in the state. This bill would require the department, no later than January 1, 2016, in collaboration with the State Board of Equalization and relevant stakeholders, to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program, which would include specified elements. The bill would require the department, no later than January 1, 2016, to report to the Legislature on its findings regarding the feasibility and desired structure of the program, including any recommendations for legislative action that may need to be taken.