California Assembly Bill AB357 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 357AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 6, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Pan FEBRUARY 14, 2013 An act to add Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code,  and to repeal Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of Part 6.2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code,  relating to child health. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 357, as amended, Pan.  California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force.   Children's Health Advisory Board.  Existing law requires  the State Department of Health Care Services   the state  to implement and administer various child health and disease prevention programs.  Existing law establishes the Healthy Families Advisory Board, a 15-member advisory panel appointed by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board. Existing law provides for the transition of children from the Healthy Families Program to Medi-Cal, including the transfer of the Healthy Families Advisory Board to the State Department of Health Care Services.  This bill would  require the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish   repeal the Healthy Families Advisory Board and instead rename and recast the board as  the  California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force   Children's Health Advisory Board  , an independent, statewide advisory body charged with developing a vision for children's health in the state, among other tasks. The bill would also provide related legislative findings and declarations. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: 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) The health and well-being of California's children should be among the state's top priorities, and it is imperative that every child in California has meaningful health coverage with benefits that support healthy growth and development. (b) Children's health coverage should encompass more than just treatment of diseases and illnesses, but also cover services and care to promote healthy development and well-being. (c) All children should receive care that meets recognized standards of practice. (d) For the first time in history, the current generation of children is likely to be less healthy than their parents and live shorter lives. (e) The incidences and types of chronic disease in children have both increased and changed dramatically over the past four decades. One in five children have a mental health problem, and the number of overweight children has tripled for preschoolers and adolescents and quadrupled for children 6 to 11 years of age, inclusive. (f) Approximately 1.1 million children in California are uninsured, and the quality of children's health services and access to these services reflect significant disparities in geographic, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status. (g) Children with special health care needs are often those who experience the greatest challenges in accessing a variety of the high-quality services they need. (h) The administration and delivery of child health programs is often ineffective, uncoordinated, and incomplete with little accountability for quality. (i) The modern epidemics facing children today have lifelong consequences and present significant costs to the economy. The failure to ensure the health of our children may jeopardize their ability to function effectively as adults and for our state and nation to remain strong and competitive in our global society.  SEC. 2.   Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to read: Article 7.5. California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force 124167. The California Health and Human Services Agency shall establish the California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force, an independent, statewide advisory body charged with developing a vision for children's health in California, making recommendations on improving child health systems, and setting goals and standards for children's health coverage that include developmentally appropriate health promotion and other support services.   SEC. 2.   Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   Article 7.5. Children's Health Advisory Board 124167. (a) The Healthy Families Advisory Board established by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance Code is hereby renamed the Children's Health Advisory Board. (b) The Children's Health Advisory Board shall be an independent, statewide advisory board that shall develop a vision for children's health in California, make recommendations on improving child health systems, and set goals and standards for children's health coverage. (c) The membership of the advisory board shall be composed of the following 15 members: (1) One member who is a licensed, practicing dentist, appointed by the Governor. (2) One representative from a licensed nonprofit primary care clinic, appointed by the Governor. (3) One representative of the mental health provider community, appointed by the Governor. (4) One representative from the health plan community, appointed by the Governor. (5) One representative from the business community, appointed by the Governor. (6) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in the area of family practice medicine, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (7) One representative from a licensed hospital that is on the disproportionate share list maintained by the State Department of Health Care Services, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (8) One representative of the substance abuse provider community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (9) One representative of the county public health provider community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (10) One representative from the education community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (11) Three representatives from the Medi-Cal population, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. (12) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in pediatrics, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. (13) One representative from a family with children with special needs, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. (d) The advisory board members shall have demonstrated expertise in providing health-related services to children 18 years of age and under, as applicable. (e) The advisory board shall elect, from among its members, its chair. (f) The advisory board's powers and duties shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) To advise the Director of Health Care Services on all policies, regulations, and operations of the Medi-Cal program. (2) To consider all written recommendations of the advisory board and respond in writing when the Director of Health Care Services rejects the advice of the advisory board. (3) To meet at least quarterly, unless deemed unnecessary by the chair. (g) The members of the advisory board shall be reimbursed for all necessary travel expenses associated with the activities of the advisory board. (h) The State Department of Health Care Services shall provide staff assistance to the advisory board. (i) The Legislature does not intend the addition of this section to result in a new board but is instead a continuation of the prior board established by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance Code, and therefore no new board members shall be appointed until a vacancy occurs.   SEC. 3.   Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of Part 6.2 of Division 2 of the   Insurance Code   is repealed.