Davis Signs Several Health Bills Into Law, Vetoes One

Facing an Oct. 14 deadline to sign into law bills passed in the most recent legislative session, Gov. Gray Davis (D) has signed the following health-related legislation:

• AB 328: Sponsored by Assembly member Simon Salinas (D-Salinas), the measure requires the state Department of Mental Health to submit data on the current status of county mental health programs to the Legislature by April 2002.
  
• AB 1046: Sponsored by Assembly member Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), the measure extends funding for the Department of Health Services to operate the Sharps Injury Control Program, which helps medical providers avoid needle sticks and related infections (Office of the Governor release, 10/1).
  
• AB 1253: Sponsored by Assembly member Barbara Matthews (D-Tracy), the measure allows clinical nurse specialists in the field of mental health nursing to be paid for counseling services provided to crime victims. It also designates as "privileged" communications between a patient and a registered nurse who has a master's degree in psychiatric mental health nursing (Office of the Governor release, 10/2).
  
• SB 1219: Sponsored by Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), the measure requires HMOs and other health insurers to cover annual cervical cancer screenings, using either a Pap test or any FDA-approved screening test requested by the patient's provider.
  

• SB 30: Sponsored by Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), the measure would have established a Realignment Review Task Force through the Health and Human Services Agency to study the relationship between the state and counties in delivering mental health, health and social service programs. In his veto message, Davis said that the study was similar to a previously completed review (Office of the Governor release, 10/1).