Proposition Numbers Assigned to Ballot Measures for November Special Election
The Office of the Secretary of State has assigned proposition numbers to eight ballot measures, three of which address health-related issues, for the Nov. 8 special election, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Summaries appear below.
Proposition 73 would amend the state constitution to require health care providers to notify the parents of an unmarried minor before they perform abortions (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/7). Under the measure, physicians would have to notify parents or guardians 48 hours before they perform abortions on unmarried minors.
In addition, the Department of Health Services would have to maintain detailed records of abortions performed on minors, although the records would exclude names. The measure would impose civil penalties on individuals who coerce minors to have an abortion.
The measure would allow exceptions in medical emergencies or if minors obtain parental waivers. Minors also could obtain judicial waivers if they can prove an abortion is in their best interest. After notification, parents or guardians of minors who seek an abortion could waive the 48-hour wait period before providers could perform the procedure (California Healthline, 5/18).
Proposition 78 would establish a voluntary prescription drug discount program for some state residents (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/7). The measure, supported by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, would ask pharmaceutical companies to provide voluntary discounts to state residents whose annual incomes do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.
The measure is modeled on California Rx, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). The Senate Health Committee in April rejected a bill (SB 19) that would have enacted the proposal. California Rx would have provided discounts to about five million state residents (California Healthline, 6/16).
Proposition 79 would establish a mandatory prescription drug discount program (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/7). The measure would require pharmaceutical companies to provide discounts to state residents whose annual incomes do not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level. Pharmaceutical companies that declined to offer such discounts could not participate in Medi-Cal (California Healthline, 6/17).
Health Access California, a health care advocacy group, and a coalition of labor groups support the measure (California Healthline, 6/23). About 10 million California residents would qualify for discounts under the measure (California Healthline, 6/17).