Davis Signs a Number of Health-Related Bills
Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday signed several health-related bills into law. Summaries of the bills appear below:
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AB 1026: The bill, sponsored by Assembly member Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), prohibits dentists to advertise that they specialize in an area of dentistry not recognized by the American Dental Association.
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AB 2052: The bill, sponsored by Assembly member Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), prohibits revisions to premium rates and copayments by HMOs after employers' open enrollment periods or after they receive the first premium payment, "unless otherwise agreed to in writing."
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AB 2423: The bill, sponsored by Assembly member Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), allows health care facilities to test for HIV, meningitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C or other communicable diseases -- with informed consent from patients -- with blood or tissue samples taken before their release from the facilities.
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AB 2606: The bill, sponsored by Assembly member Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach), requires the Department of Health Services to consider current and future public health problems in the evaluation of ground water recharge injection programs (Office of the Governor release, 9/3).
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SB 1404: The bill, sponsored by Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), requires administrators at Department of Mental Health hospitals to consider recommendations made by representatives of patient government and those submitted by patient advocacy groups on certain expenditures.
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SB 1642: The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nell Soto (D-Pomona), amends a law passed last year to allow dieticians, under a physician's supervision, to order laboratory tests for their patients (Office of the Governor release, 9/3).
- SB 1907: The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles), conforms a state law that regulates physician referrals to federal law and allows licensees or immediate family members to provide services to entities to which they refer patients (Office of the Governor release, 9/3).
