Legislature Set to Return to Sacramento from Spring Recess

On Monday, the California State Legislature will return to Sacramento from its week-long spring recess. Lawmakers face an extremely busy month ahead as they work through policy committee hearings, facing deadlines in late April and early May to advance to the floor bills introduced in their house of origin.

Recall, the Legislature is operating in a slightly different fashion given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Legislators have set aside budget hearings and actions until the release of the Governor’s May Revise Budget in early May while they consider legislative and policy matters.

Below, we highlight several bills of interest to CHEAC Members. Our full CHEAC Weekly Bill Chart is available here.

Public Health Infrastructure

AB 240 (Rodriguez) as introduced January 13, 2021 – SPONSOR

AB 240 by Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez will be heard in the Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, April 6. CHEAC, HOAC, and SEIU California were joined by UCC and RCRC in sponsoring the measure this week. The measure would require the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to contract with an appropriate and qualified entity to conduct an evaluation of the adequacy of the local health department infrastructure and to make recommendations for future staffing, workforce, and resource needs.

Communicable Disease Control

SB 742 (Pan) as amended March 4, 2021 – SUPPORT

Senator Richard Pan’s SB 742 would prohibit a person from engaging in physical obstruction, intimidation, or picketing within 300 feet a targeted vaccination site during the site’s operational hours. The measure additionally specifies violation penalties and includes an urgency clause to “ensure public peace and safety during the process of distributing vaccinations” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure will be heard in the Senate Health Committee on April 20.

Health Equity

AB 1407 (Burke) as amended March 18, 2021 – SUPPORT

AB 1407 by Assembly Member Autumn Burke would require specified nursing schools and programs to include in its curriculum coursework on implicit bias. The measure would also require new nurse licensees to complete direct participation in an implicit bias course and would require hospitals to implement an evidence-based implicit bias program as part of its program that hires and trains new nursing program graduates. CHEAC is proud to support AB 1407 as a way to potentially reduce health and health care disparities among Californians of racial, ethnic, or cultural minorities. AB 1407 will be heard in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday, April 6.