Schwarzenegger Signs Women’s Health Legislation
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday signed a bill (SB 1260) that will establish limits on compensation for women who agree to donate eggs for stem cell research, the Los Angeles Times reports. The measure, by Sens. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) and George Runner (R-Lancaster), also will require oral and written consent before women begin drug therapy to induce their ovaries to produce eggs (Los Angeles Times, 9/27).
Other Legislation
Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed other legislation related to women's health. Summaries appear below.
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AB 2251, by Assembly member Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), in some circumstances will prohibit personal information of reproductive health care providers, employees, volunteers and patients from being posted on the Internet.
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AB 2583, by Assembly member Joe Nation (D-San Rafael), will require pharmacies to post a sign developed by the Board of Pharmacy that informs patients of their rights to receive prescribed treatment or device if a pharmacist declines to fulfill the prescription for ethical, moral or religious reasons.
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SB 246, by Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), will require hospitals that collect, store or process human milk to comply with standards established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. The law also exempts such facilities from seeking a tissue bank license.
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SB 603, by Ortiz, will require Commission on the Status of Women to report on how the state Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act is being implemented.
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SB 1245, by Figueroa, will require health plans to cover the cost of tests to detect human papilloma virus if a physician recommends the screening. HPV testing can help detect cervical cancer.
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SB 1555, by Sen. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo), will require the Department of Health Services to expand prenatal screening to include all tests recommended by medical or genetic organizations. The law also will require facilities that store umbilical cord blood to be licensed.
- SB 1851, by the Senate Health Committee, will amend an existing provision to require that breast cancer patients be provided with a list of alternative treatments after their diagnosis, rather than before (Office of the Governor release, 9/26).