BILL NUMBER: SB 22INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Beall DECEMBER 3, 2012 An act relating to health care coverage. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 22, as introduced, Beall. Health care coverage: mental health parity. 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. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plan contracts or health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2000, to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of severe mental illnesses, as defined, and of serious emotional disturbances of a child, as specified, under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would ensure compliance with and implementation of state and federal mental health parity laws. 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 would ensure compliance with and implementation of federal and state mental health parity laws.