Senate Sub. 3 Hears Stakeholder Proposals, Including CHEAC’s Public Health Infrastructure Investments

Today, the Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services convened a hearing to review a series of budget proposals that augment or modify the Governor’s January Budget Proposal. The Subcommittee received a high-level presentation of various budget investments in the California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Agency, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), California Department of Public Health, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and Covered California.

Of note, the Subcommittee heard CHEAC’s sponsored budget request for a $200 million General Fund ongoing investment for public health infrastructure and workforce. CHEAC is joined by SEIU California, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), the Urban Counties of California (UCC), and the Health Officers Association of California (HOAC) in sponsoring the request to support local health departments statewide. The Subcommittee additionally heard CHEAC’s sponsored request for $3.2 million General Fund in 2021-22 and $150,000 General Fund annually thereafter to support a public health infrastructure and workforce study. HOAC and SEIU California are additionally sponsoring the public health workforce assessment budget investment with CHEAC.

Both Subcommittee No. 3 Chair Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman and Senator Richard Pan in their brief remarks before public comment highlighted the critical work of local health departments during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need to invest in the state’s public health infrastructure. The subcommittee heard several hours’ worth of public comment expressing support for various the various health and human services-related investments. All items were held open for action at a future date.

Senate Budget Subcommittees will take a hiatus until around the May Revise Budget release in early May while policy committees begin bill hearings next week. The subcommittee’s hearing agenda is available here. A video recording of the hearing is available here.