The Week Ahead

The Senate Appropriations Committee's agenda includes discussion of a measure (SB 535) by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) seeking revisions to a law regarding public information on long-term care facilities. The committee also is slated to discuss SB 443 by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), a measure that would allow HIV-positive males to use reproductive medical services.

A measure (AB 8) that seeks to require employers to provide coverage to workers and dependents or pay into a state fund will go before the Assembly Health Committee for consideration. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) is carrying the bill. Discussion at the hearing will be open to more than a dozen other bills, including AB 585 by Assembly member Patty Berg (D-Santa Rosa) that would provide Medi-Cal reimbursements for case management services in some cases.

The Senate Health Committee will debate the cornerstone of Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata's (D-Oakland) health care reform plan: SB 48 would require employers to provide health care coverage to employees and dependents or pay into a state purchasing pool. The committee agenda also includes a bill (SB 933) by Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) that no longer would permit the California Medical Assistance
Commission to negotiate rates with counties that provide Medi-Cal services.

Also in the Senate, the Revenue and Taxation Committee is set to consider SB 25 by Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), a measure that would exempt contributions to health savings accounts from state income taxes. The committee agenda also includes legislation (SB 24) by Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-Concord) to boost funding for health care programs by increasing the state tobacco tax.

April 27 is the deadline for policy committees in the Senate and Assembly to forward legislation to the appropriations committee of each house.