Assembly Approves Bill on Workers’ Comp for Sick Hospital Employees
On Wednesday, the Assembly voted 44-22 along party lines to pass legislation (AB 375), by Assembly member Nancy Skinner (D-East Bay), that automatically would qualify hospital staff for workers' compensation if they developed certain blood-borne diseases or infections on the job, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Democrats voted in favor of the measure, but Republicans opposed it, saying it would drive up health care costs (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 6/1).
Action on Other Health-Related Bills
Several other health-related bills are making their way through California's Legislature. Summaries of some of the latest actions are provided below.
- The Senate unanimously voted to pass SB 796, by Sen. Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), which would impose a fine of up to $1,000 and make it a misdemeanor to provide items such as cigarettes, money or wireless communication devices to patients at state mental health hospitals (Cuddy, San Luis Obispo Tribune, 6/1).
- The Senate voted 24-9 to pass SB 746, by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), which would ban the use of tanning beds by people younger than age 18 (Weintraub, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 6/1).
- The Assembly unanimously voted to pass AB 1280, by Assembly member Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), which would require drug stores and pharmacies to use an electronic system to track consumers who purchase medication containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the illegal drug methamphetamine (AP/Sacramento Bee, 5/31).