Healthcare

This measure would designate the week of May 24, 2026, to May 30, 2026, inclusive, as California OB-GYN Week to recognize the essential contributions of obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYNs) to the health care system and the critical role they play in delivering comprehensive, preventive, and primary care services, and to encourage the continued recognition and support of OB-GYNs to ensure access to high-quality, equitable health care for all Californians.

This measure, in order to support ongoing public education and to encourage vaccination, screening, and linkage to care, would declare June 2026 as Hepatitis B Awareness Month in California in alignment with national and global awareness activities, and encourage state agencies, local health jurisdictions, community-based organizations, health care providers, and other stakeholders to observe this month with appropriate educational and outreach activities focused on hepatitis B prevention, testing, treatment, and health equity.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education, on or before January 1, 2024, to develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in California public schools. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2028, to develop a plan to expand digital wellness instruction in California public schools, as provided.

Senate Resolution 122 formally recognizes November 2026 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in California. This non-binding resolution highlights the severity of the disease, noting its high mortality rate and lack of early detection methods, while also pointing out that current federal funding for pancreatic cancer research is low compared to other areas. The bill urges all Californians to take action to end pancreatic cancer and calls for increased awareness and support for research efforts. It does not change any laws or allocate state funds but serves to draw public attention to the issue.

This Senate Resolution officially designates September 2026 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in California. The bill aims to highlight the severity of the disease and encourage women to seek early medical attention for symptoms like bloating and pelvic pain. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to raise public awareness and support for those affected by ovarian cancer.

Senate Resolution 126 declares September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in California, aiming to highlight the impact of pediatric cancer on families and the state's medical resources. The resolution encourages individuals, businesses, and organizations to participate in awareness activities and support affected families throughout the year. It also expresses gratitude to healthcare providers and parents while reaffirming the Senate's commitment to finding cures and less toxic treatments for children with cancer.

The electors of a county may propose an ordinance to the county board of supervisors by submitting an initiative petition containing signatures by registered voters in the county in an amount equal to 10% of the number of votes cast within the county for all candidates for Governor at the preceding gubernatorial election. If the county elections official certifies that an initiative petition has been signed by at least that number of voters, the county board of supervisors is required to either adopt the ordinance or submit it to the voters at the next statewide election occurring not less than 88 days later. This bill would require any Fresno County initiative petition that has been certified as sufficient by the Fresno County Registrar of Voters on or before July 8, 2026, to be submitted, without alteration, to the voters at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Fresno. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

This Senate resolution designates September 2026 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in California to highlight the importance of early detection and screening for the disease. The bill encourages all individuals, especially those at higher risk, to have open discussions with their healthcare providers about personal risk factors and the benefits or risks of testing. By raising public awareness, the resolution aims to promote informed decision-making regarding prostate cancer screening practices.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to identify an evidence-based online training program that a county office of education, school district, state special school, or charter school that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, can use to train school staff and pupils as part of their policy on pupil suicide prevention. Existing law requires the department, subject to an appropriation for these purposes, to provide a grant to a county office of education to acquire a training program identified by the department and disseminate that training program at no cost to specified educational entities, as specified. This bill would revise and recast these provisions by (1) deleting the requirement to provide the above-described grant, (2) deleting the requirement of the department to identify the above-described evidence-based online training program, (3) instead requiring the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to develop an online training program to train school staff, pupils who are 13 years of age or older, and parents, guardians, or caregivers of pupils as part of the policy on pupil suicide prevention adopted by county offices of education, school districts, state special schools, and charter schools that serve pupils in kindergarten or in any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as specified. The bill would require those educational entities that elect to conduct suicide risk screenings to report, on or before June 30, 2027, and June 30 annually thereafter, the number of pupils screened, and which screening instruments were used, for the reporting year, to the department, as provided, and would require the department to compile and post statewide aggregate data on these screenings on its internet website, as provided. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to, among other things, perform certain procedures or functions and furnish specified drugs. Existing law authorizes the refilling of a prescription for a dangerous drug without the authorization of the prescriber if the prescriber is unavailable to authorize the refill and, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, failure to refill the prescription might interrupt the patient's ongoing care and have a significant adverse effect on the patient's well-being. Existing law requires a pharmacist to notify the prescriber, as specified, of any prescription refilled without their authorization. This bill would only require a pharmacist to provide that notification if a prescriber is identified.