Lawmakers Send Bills On Alerts About Premium Increases, Smoking To Brown
The California legislature has approved bills that would alert consumers when state regulators think insurance premium rate increase are too high and ban smoking within 250 feet of youth sporting events. Also in the news, a look at a ballot measure that would require porn stars to wear condoms.
KPCC:
Audio: Bill To Alert Consumers Of 'Unreasonable' Health Plan Rate Hikes Heads To Governor
State lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would alert consumers whenever state regulators consider increases to their health insurance premiums to be too high. Under existing law, the California Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Insurance review rate hikes proposed by the insurers and health plans each regulates. When the agencies conclude that an increase is unjustified, they can ask the insurer to rescind the increase, but the company is not legally obligated to comply. The two departments' only recourse is to post the information on their websites. (O'Neill, 8/25)
Los Angeles Times:
Governor To Consider Banning Smoking Near Youth Sports Events
Having already signed several anti-tobacco bills this year, Gov. Jerry Brown will also get to decide whether to ban smoking within 250 feet of Little League baseball games and other youth sports events. The latest bill was approved Thursday by the state Senate and sent to Brown, who previously raised the smoking age to 21 and designated electronic cigarettes as tobacco products subject to bans on use in restaurants and other public places where smoking is banned. (McGreevy, 8/25)
The Desert Sun:
Protecting Porn Stars: Debating California's Condom Vote
At the same time Californians decide major questions like whether recreational marijuana should be legal and the death penalty banned in their state, voters this November will have their say on another question far more — let's just get it over with — sexy: Should porn stars be required to wear condoms? It's a straightforward question that glosses over the full scope of the ballot measure, known as Proposition 60, one of 17 being decided this fall. State law is already used to mandate condoms in adult films, but the rules are routinely ignored. (Newkirk, 8/25)