GRAY DAVIS: Governor Vetoes Health Care Legislation
With more than 1,000 bills to consider before the Sept. 30 deadline, Gov. Gray Davis (D) has issued 42 vetoes so far. Following are some of the measures Davis rejected:
- SB 1576: Sponsored by Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City), this bill would have created a new entitlement program with $1 million from the General Fund to establish a pool of health professionals eligible for educational loan repayment assistance similar to a federally funded program, but Davis argued that the measure would violate the $1 million cap.
- AB 754: Sponsored by Assembly member Dion Arnoer (D-Berkeley), this bill would have required the Department of Health Services to provide Medi-Cal plans with contract rates at least 60 days before each new contract period, which Davis said would jeopardize millions of federal dollars in the Medi-Cal program.
- AB 536: Sponsored by Assembly member Sarah Reyes (D-Fresno), this bill would have provided blood testing for human leukocyte antigen typing for volunteers in the National Marrow Donor Program. Although he supports the measure, Davis cited a lack of funding in his veto message.
- AB 1847: Sponsored by Assembly member Howard Wayne (D-San Diego), this bill would have created a task force to create a state plan on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. Davis said the bill did not provide the necessary funding to complete the report.
- AB 1879: Sponsored by Assembly member Jim Cuneen (R-Campbell), this bill would have required that schools be given information to teach children about brain and spinal cord injury prevention. Davis said the current process to curriculum was sufficient.
- AB 2424: Sponsored by Assembly member Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), this bill would have provided for the licensure of private duty nursing agencies. While supportive, Davis said funds were not appropriated in the current budget.
- AB 2832: Sponsored by Assembly member Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara), this bill would have exempted medical devices intended for investigational use outside the United States from state licensing. Davis said there must be assurances such devices would not be distributed domestically or reimported (Office of the Governor release, 9/15).