Health & Public Health

Authorizes counties to create behavioral health teams to support mentally ill individuals in county jails. Enables confidential information sharing between team members to coordinate mental health care services. Requires counties to establish strict protocols for protecting shared confidential information. Mandates team members follow federal and state privacy laws when handling sensitive data.

Establishes a new tax return checkoff option allowing Californians to donate to Parkinson's disease research. Creates a dedicated fund to support the state's Parkinson's disease research and data collection program. Requires a minimum of $250,000 in annual contributions to maintain the fund. Automatically terminates after seven years unless renewed through legislation.

Authorizes licensed vocational nurses to perform basic respiratory care in schools under nurse supervision. Requires vocational nurses to complete employer-approved patient-specific training by January 2028. Expands healthcare options for students with exceptional needs during regular school hours. Mandates joint development of implementation rules by education and health departments.

Requires biennial public reports on Medi-Cal telehealth usage starting in 2028 to improve healthcare access. Mandates detailed analysis of telehealth utilization across demographics and social factors to identify disparities. Tracks multiple metrics including visit rates, mental health services, and dental care usage patterns. Authorizes the collection of additional data elements to better understand telehealth effectiveness.

Authorizes ambulances to transport injured police and search-and-rescue dogs to veterinary facilities when no humans need care. Permits emergency responders to provide basic first aid to injured service dogs during transport without legal liability. Requires ambulance operators to develop and submit animal transport policies to local emergency services agencies. Maintains that emergency services cannot be required by contract to transport or treat service animals.

Authorizes emergency room doctors to dispense unused portions of non-controlled medications upon patient discharge. Requires dispensed medications to be from single-patient use packaging that patients can self-administer. Exempts hospital automated drug delivery systems from additional licensing when used for emergency dispensing. Holds prescribing doctors legally responsible for any errors in dispensing medications to patients.

Establishes new standards for home health aide training programs, including online and in-person instruction. Requires home health aides to complete 12 hours of annual training to maintain certification. Mandates that instructors be registered nurses with two years experience or supervised vocational nurses. Requires online training programs to use real-time video instruction and verify student identities.

Expands veterinary technicians' ability to administer vaccines at animal shelters with remote veterinary supervision. Requires veterinary technicians to maintain emergency care equipment and detailed patient records. Mandates written protocols and client disclosure before administering preventive treatments.

Expands medical practice permits for faculty at cancer centers that train at least 25 resident physicians annually. Authorizes each academic medical center to receive up to 5 special faculty permits per year. Requires academic medical centers to conduct peer reviews and clinical research to qualify for faculty permits.

Allows students to terminate university health insurance when they graduate or leave school starting July 2026. Requires schools to grant insurance waivers to students who have other qualifying health coverage. Mandates prorated premium refunds when students terminate their coverage mid-term. Authorizes penalties up to $10,000 for insurers who violate these requirements.

Prohibits health insurers from requiring autism rediagnosis to maintain behavioral health coverage after January 2026. Prevents insurers from discontinuing existing autism treatment while waiting for any rediagnosis. Requires health plans to maintain networks of qualified autism service providers and professionals. Allows providers to conduct treatment reevaluations while preserving patient coverage status.

Establishes a voluntary tax contribution fund for pediatric cancer research on California tax returns. Requires a minimum of $250,000 in annual contributions to maintain the program. Allocates funds to University of California for research grants and community education programs. Expires after seven years unless renewed by the Legislature.

Protects individuals from legal liability when administering anti-seizure medication during emergencies. Requires good faith and uncompensated assistance for liability protection to apply. Excludes protection in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Maintains separate rules for schools under the existing Seizure Safe Schools Act.

Allows appointed Imperial Valley Healthcare District board members to run for elected positions starting 2024. Requires the district to be divided into seven voting districts by July 1, 2024. Mandates board members to reside in their voting district for 30 days before election.

Authorizes all health care districts to use design-build contracts for hospital construction projects. Requires hospital construction projects to meet state seismic safety standards. Expands procurement options while maintaining existing safety and oversight requirements. Mandates board approval before districts can utilize the design-build process.

Extends emergency pharmacy regulation waivers from 90 to 120 days after declared emergencies end. Authorizes mobile pharmacies in emergency areas if they share ownership with licensed facilities. Allows damaged pharmacies to relocate without ownership transfer during declared emergencies. Requires mobile pharmacies to cease operations within 48 hours after emergency declarations end.

Extends funding for deaf and disabled telecommunications services through 2034 via utility bill surcharges. Authorizes collection of up to $100 million annually to provide specialized telecommunications equipment. Shifts program funding control from the Public Utilities Commission to the state Legislature. Takes effect immediately to ensure uninterrupted services for deaf and hard-of-hearing residents.

Expands access to opioid overdose reversal drugs by removing training requirements and broadening distribution rights. Prohibits treatment facilities from requiring sobriety for admission or continued care to maintain treatment access. Requires drug treatment facilities to maintain naloxone supplies and have trained staff available at all times. Mandates that 33 percent of drug program fees fund evidence-based prevention programs in schools and communities.

Expands California's birth defects monitoring program to track health conditions during a baby's first year of life. Authorizes local health departments to collect and manage birth defect data within their jurisdictions. Strengthens privacy protections for medical records and blood samples related to birth defects. Establishes new fees and funds to support birth defect monitoring and research programs.

Extends the Board of Psychology and Board of Behavioral Sciences operations until January 1, 2030. Establishes new continuing education requirements for mental health professionals in suicide prevention and aging care. Expands supervision requirements and qualifies out-of-state practitioners to provide temporary services for up to 30 days. Updates disciplinary standards and reporting requirements for professional misconduct across healing arts professions.

Authorizes trained facility staff to administer emergency antiseizure medications during seizure emergencies. Requires facilities to create detailed seizure action plans for each affected individual by January 2027. Mandates free training for volunteer staff during regular work hours on seizure response and medication. Protects volunteers from legal liability when administering emergency antiseizure medication in good faith.

Limits room and board charges for Medi-Cal residents in elderly care facilities based on their income levels. Modifies Medi-Cal eligibility by excluding certain housing costs from countable income calculations. Requires federal approval before implementing new income calculation rules for Medi-Cal eligibility. Creates criminal penalties for facilities that violate the new room and board rate restrictions.

Establishes a comprehensive academic study program to examine mental health challenges specifically affecting women veterans in California. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to analyze demographics, risk factors, treatment access barriers, and suicide rates among women veterans. Mandates submission of study findings and recommendations to the Legislature by June 30, 2029. Automatically terminates the study program on January 1, 2030, following the completion and submission of findings.

Requires state evaluation of safe disposal methods for vape pens confiscated from students by schools through 2029. Authorizes hazardous waste facilities to disassemble vape pens to separate batteries and hazardous components. Prohibits vape pens from being included in household hazardous waste exchange programs.

Establishes the Department of Health Care Services as the primary administrator of California's perinatal services program. Requires all perinatal healthcare providers to complete mandatory training by July 2027. Mandates quality reviews of perinatal providers every three years starting January 2026. Requires regular reporting on the number of patients offered and receiving perinatal services.