Health Care-Related Bills Win Approval in Legislature
In addition to legislation to overhaul California's health care system, the Senate and Assembly on Thursday also voted in favor of forwarding other measures with implications for health care to the other legislative chamber. Summaries appear below.
- SB 7 would ban smoking in vehicles containing children under the age of 18. At least 15 other states are considering similar legislation (DeFao, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/8).
- SB 490 would bar public school cafeterias and vending machines from serving products with artificial trans fats (Geissinger, San Jose Mercury News, 6/8).
- SB 801 and AB 1137 would let the Legislature amend the Chiropractic Act to give the Consumer Affairs Department more authority over the board. The measures would require Senate confirmation of the governor's appointees to the board and would let lawmakers appoint some members of the board (Yamamura, Sacramento Bee, 6/11).
- AB 97 beginning in 2010 would prohibit restaurants and delicatessens from using oils, margarine and shortening containing trans fats to prepare food. The ban would extend to bakeries beginning in 2011 (Young, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/8).
- AB 682 would permit physicians to schedule HIV tests as part of standard blood tests during medical exams so long as the patient is informed of the HIV test. Patients could decline the test (Henshaw, Palm Springs Desert Sun, 6/8).
Broadcast Coverage
KPBS' "KPBS News" on Friday reported on the trans fats bill. The segment includes comments from Assembly member George Plescia (R-San Diego) (Russ, "KPBS News," KPBS, 6/8).
A transcript and audio of the segment are available online.