Children’s Advocates Rally for Measure That Supports Expanding Health Coverage

Some state legislators and community activists on Friday rallied in support of a bill (AB 772) by Assembly member Wilma Chan (D-Oakland) that pledges the Legislature's support of expanding health care coverage to children under age 21, regardless of their citizenship status, the Oakland Tribune reports. The rally was organized by Congregations Organizing for Renewal, a faith-based group that is part of the PICO Network, which works with children's advocacy groups to expand health coverage (Meyers, Oakland Tribune, 4/4).

The bill would "express the Legislature's findings concerning the importance of providing health care coverage to all children in the state" and assert its "intent to establish the California for Healthy Kids Program" to provide children younger than age 21 "access to affordable health care coverage."

The bill suggests that the state increase children's access to health care through employer-based health care initiatives and the expansion of public programs (Bill Text, 2/18).

Assembly members Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) and Johan Klehs (D-San Leandro) support the measure. Alameda County Supervisors Alice Lai-Bitker, Gail Steele and Nate Miley, and Alameda County Superintendent Sheila Jordan also support the bill.

COR urged elected officials and other community members to participate in a bus trip to Sacramento on April 13 to lobby for the bill (Oakland Tribune, 4/3).