Names-Based Reporting Bill Becomes Law
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday signed legislation (SB 699) to create a names-based reporting system for new HIV cases in the state, the Los Angeles Times reports. The law will allow the state to retain more than $50 million in annual funding for HIV/AIDS-related programs (Keller, Los Angeles Times, 4/18).
Beginning this fall, the federal government will provide funding only to states with HIV reporting systems that it considers reliable.
Under the new federal policy, California could have lost federal funding unless its old alphanumeric codes system was changed. The alphanumeric system has been criticized as costly and inaccurate (California Healthline, 4/10).
The bill, by Sen. Nell Soto (D-Ontario), was unanimously approved by the Senate and Assembly (Los Angeles Times, 4/18).