Schwarzenegger Takes Action on Health Care-Related Legislation
On Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed legislation dealing with health care services for foster kids and use of umbilical cord blood for medical research and treatments, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The governor signed SB 785 and AB 1512 to improve access to health care and mental health services for foster children. The measures were authored by Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly member Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont), respectively.
Steinberg said SB 785 will help guarantee access to mental health services for foster children and adoptive children placed into homes outside their home counties.
Schwarzenegger signed legislation involving the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood, which possibly can treat as many as 70 blood diseases, such as leukemia or sickle cell anemia (Chorneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/12). The bills are:
- AB 34 by Assembly member Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) to establish the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program and create a fund for donations and federal funds to public cord blood banks; and
- SB 962 by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) to provide information to pregnant women about cord blood donation and facilitate the use of cord blood samples for research purposes (Office of the Governor release, 10/11).
Meanwhile, the governor vetoed SB 801 by Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Leimert Park) to increase state oversight of the Board of Chiropractic Examiners by putting the board under the Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees other professional licensing boards.
Schwarzenegger in his veto message said the board already is working with the Department of Consumer Affairs to "correct any prior deficiencies" (Hill, Sacramento Bee, 10/12).