California Assembly Bill AB2354 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2354AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act relating to public health. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2354, as amended, V. Manuel Perez. Community Health Workers: Promotores. Existing law establishes training and certification programs for various healing arts professionals including, among others, nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, dietitians, and social workers. This bill would  state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would prepare California to receive and use various federal health care funding to prepare, train, promote, and expand the work of community health workers, as specified.   require the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the University of California, to establish a technical advisory committee to study the creation of a framework for a promotores development program, as specified.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:  (a) Community Health Workers (CHWs), also known as promotores, peer leaders, or health advocates, serve as a bridge between the community and the public health care system, providing health education and prevention information and resources in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate. CHWs   (a)     Promotores, also known as Community Health Workers (CHWs), peer leaders,   or health advocates, serve as a bridge between the community and the public and private health care system, providing health education, health promotion, prevention, informational counseling, and referral information, as well as resources in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate. Promotores  function as cultural brokers who possess a unique understanding of those, often difficult-to-reach, communities they serve. (b) According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, integrating promotores and community health workers into health programs has been associated with improvements in access to health care, prenatal care, pregnancy and birth outcomes, client health status, health- and screening-related behaviors,  community health,  and reduced health care costs.  (c) Federal efforts to address healthcare affordability and accessibility have identified the community health worker and promotores model as an effective practice and have committed financial support to help implement the model. In fact, current federal legislative efforts include funding for CHWs and promotores.   (d) The Legislature recognizes and applauds the contributions of CHWs with regard to community health and well-being, and cost-effective prevention. Currently, however, California does not have a statewide certification or any training specific to becoming or working as a promotora or community health worker.   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would prepare California to receive and use federal health care funding, including, but not limited to, health prevention, outreach, and education funding, to prepare, train, promote, and expand the work of promotores, including in community health clinics and county public health departments, throughout the state.   (c) Federal efforts to address health care affordability, accessibility, and use have identified the promotores model as an effective practice and have committed financial support to help implement the model. Current federal legislative efforts include funding and support for programs that could employ promotores on a broad scale.   (d) The Legislature recognizes and applauds the contributions of promotores toward improving community health and well-being, advocacy, and cost-effective prevention. Currently, however, California does not have a statewide certification or standardized training to certify the status of promotores.   (e) As increased federal public health funding becomes available to California, specifically for the increased use of promotores and for programs that employ promotores, it is incumbent upon the state to have a comprehensive assessment of the current use of and funding for promotores. This should include the feasibility of a promotores development program, and a multiphased strategy for implementing a program to set standards, train, evaluate, promote, and expand the work of promotores, in community health clinics and local public health departments, community-based organizations, research institutions, and other public and private entities throughout the state.   SEC. 2.   The State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the University of California, shall establish a technical advisory committee to study the creation of a framework for a promotores development program. The committee shall advise the department, the Governor, and the Legislature regarding its findings and recommendations. The committee shall use federal funding, including, but not limited to, funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, to support the development of the study.