BILL NUMBER: ABX3 24INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Jones JANUARY 22, 2009 An act relating to the Healthy Families Program. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 24, as introduced, Jones. The Healthy Families Program. Existing law creates the Healthy Families Program, administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, to arrange for the provision of health, dental, and vision benefits to eligible children pursuant to a federal program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Eligibility requirements include being a child in a family with a specified household income. Existing law requires applicants applying to the purchasing pool to agree to pay family contributions, unless the applicant has a family contribution sponsor. Existing law continuously appropriates funds to the board from the Healthy Families Fund for the program. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation implementing specified changes to federal law affecting the Healthy Families Program. The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that implements changes to federal law affecting the Healthy Families Program, including, but not limited to, changes enacted as part of any federal economic stimulus act and any reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, as passed by the 111th Congress and signed by the President of the United States. SEC. 2. This act addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation on December 19, 2008 pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 10 of Article IV of the California Constitution.