BILL NUMBER: SB 1283INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Steinberg FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act relating to health care coverage. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1283, as introduced, Steinberg. Health care coverage: autism. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. A willful violation of the act constitutes a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of severe mental illnesses, including, but not limited to, pervasive developmental disorder or autism, under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions, as specified. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide clarification on the duties imposed upon health care service plans and health insurers, under the existing mental health parity law, to provide medically necessary services for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. 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 to provide clarification on the duties imposed upon health care service plans and health insurers, under the existing mental health parity law, to provide medically necessary services for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.