California Assembly Bill AB2589 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2589AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gomez FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to  amend Section 17005.5 of   add Sections 123362 and 123363 to  the Health and Safety Code, relating to  housing.   lactation services.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2589, as amended, Gomez.  Employee housing.   Lactation services and equipment.   Existing law provides for the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program) administered by the State Department of Public Health and counties, under which nutrition and other assistance is provided to eligible low-income postpartum and lactating women, infants, and children under 5 years of age.   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which health care services, including breastfeeding services, are provided to qualified low-income persons. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to streamline and simplify existing Medi-Cal program procedures in order to improve access to lactation supports and breast pumps among Medi-Cal recipients.   This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services to develop processes, procedures, and an electronic interface for eligibility-related information sharing to streamline enrollment into the WIC Program, as part of the application process for Medi-Cal and health plans offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange. The bill would require the State Department of Public Health to coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services, through a stakeholder engagement process, to develop measures and outcomes for breastfeeding, as specified, and minimum required breast pump and accessory equipment standards for the provision of breast pumps and accessories in all health plans.   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to durable medical equipment rates for breast pumps and accessory kits, including a rate review and adjustment process, in order to ensure the continued provision of, and access to, quality breast pumps, particularly for health plans serving low-income mothers and their infants.   The Employee Housing Act requires a person operating employee housing to obtain a permit to operate that housing from the agency that enforces the act, which can either be the Department of Housing and Community Development or a city, county, or city and county that assumes responsibility for enforcing the act. The act defines for its purposes several terms, including the term "employee community housing."   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.  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.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to durable medical equipment rates for breast pumps and accessory kits, including a rate review and adjustment process, in order to ensure the continued provision of, and access to, quality breast pumps, particularly for health plans serving low-income mothers and their infants.   SEC. 2.   Section 123362 is added to the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   123362. The State Department of Public Health shall coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services to develop processes, procedures, and an electronic interface for eligibility-related information sharing to streamline enrollment into the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as the WIC Program, as part of the application process for Medi-Cal and health plans offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange established under Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code.   SEC. 3.   Section 123363 is added to the   Health and Safety Code   , to read:   123363. The State Department of Public Health shall coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services, through a stakeholder engagement process, to do both of the following: (a) Develop measures and outcomes for breastfeeding, including, at a minimum, both of the following: (1) Initiation, duration and exclusivity, and ethnic disparities. (2) Nutrition, relating to chronic disease impacting women, infants, and children, including, but not limited to, obesity, forms of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. (b) Develop minimum required breast pump and accessory equipment standards for the provision of breast pumps and accessories in all health plans.   SECTION 1.   Section 17005.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 17005.5. (a) "Employee community housing" means a community of single family detached dwellings that meet all of the following requirements: (1) Each dwelling has a minimum of four rooms, including a separate kitchen and a separate bathroom. (2) Each dwelling is owned or operated by an employer, and maintained by the employer in compliance with the provisions of the State Housing Law, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, that materially affect health and safety. (3) Each dwelling is inhabited by not more than one family, which includes at least one permanent year-round employee of the employer who owns or operates the dwelling. (4) Each dwelling has direct access to a publicly owned and maintained road. (5) Each dwelling is located within a community, as defined in subdivision (b). (b) "Community" means not less than 200 single family detached dwellings meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), that are adjacent or in close proximity to each other, and that have maintenance services available to the residents of the dwelling units provided by persons employed by the employer for the express purpose of providing those services.