Existing law prohibits the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District from issuing general obligation or revenue bonds, or any other form of long-term indebtedness, except to finance an interim system of buses and ferries or to finance capital improvements or modifications relating to seismic safety of the Golden Gate Bridge. This bill would authorize the district to accept contributions and loans from this state and the United States for the purpose of financing capital improvements or modifications related to seismic safety on the Golden Gate Bridge, as specified.
SCR 7 is a Senate resolution (not a law) that formally acknowledges the health benefits of adopting permanent standard time instead of changing clocks for daylight saving time. It cites medical evidence linking biannual time changes to health issues like medical errors, heart attacks, and sleep disruption, particularly affecting shift workers and students. The resolution notes support from medical associations and references how Arizona, Hawaii, and other regions already use permanent standard time. It does not change timekeeping laws but urges consideration of permanent standard time as a health and safety measure.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through fee-for-service or managed care delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for the licensure of hospice agencies by the State Department of Public Health to provide hospice services to an individual who is experiencing the last phase of life due to a terminal illness, as defined. Under existing law, hospice services are covered under the Medi-Cal program, subject to utilization controls and the availability of federal financial participation, as specified. The State Department of Health Care Services administratively requires, effective March 2, 2026, a hospice provider to use a certain online attestation form to notify the department when a Medi-Cal fee-for-service member has elected to receive hospice services, as specified. This bill would codify and recast those departmental procedures relating to the online form. The bill would require the hospice provider to submit the online form within 5 calendar days after the member's election to receive hospice services, and to submit the form in conjunction with counseling, receipt of informed consent, and completion of a separate election notice form, as specified. The bill would make these provisions applicable only to the Medi-Cal fee-for-service delivery system. In the case of Medi-Cal managed care, the bill would require a hospice provider to instead follow its assigned Medi-Cal managed care plan's submission requirements, as specified.
Senate Resolution 137 formally declares October 2026 as National Chiropractic Health Month in California. The resolution highlights chiropractic care as a drug-free option for treating musculoskeletal conditions and notes that the profession is regulated by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which operates without using state general fund money. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the California Chiropractic Association and the bill's author.
Senate Resolution 131 proclaims September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in California, aiming to reduce stigma and promote access to mental health services. The resolution highlights the critical role of community-based providers, specifically acknowledging the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services for their contributions to crisis care. It affirms that support is available to all Californians through resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Senate Resolution 128 designates September 3, 2026, as California Neuroblastoma Awareness Day. The bill aims to recognize the resilience of children and families affected by this specific childhood cancer and support medical professionals working to treat it. It highlights that neuroblastoma is the most common cancer in infants and notes that increased public awareness can help drive earlier diagnosis and research investment.
This bill is a procedural resolution that proclaims September 2026 as Recovery Month in California. It aims to honor individuals in recovery, service providers, and communities dedicated to treating substance use disorders and mental health conditions. The text also highlights recent state investments under Proposition 1, which have funded new behavioral health facilities and treatment slots across the state.
This Senate Resolution highlights the importance of medically supportive food and nutrition services, often called "food as medicine," in improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs for Californians. It notes that these services, which include medically tailored meals and groceries, are already a key part of the state's Medi-Cal program and have been shown to lower emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The resolution emphasizes the value of these programs in addressing diet-related health issues and encourages continued collaboration among healthcare providers and community organizations to expand access. Additionally, it supports sourcing food from local farms to benefit the economy and environment while ensuring high-quality, culturally relevant care for patients.
Senate Resolution 108 formally recognizes May 5, 2026, as World Asthma Day in California. The measure highlights the disproportionate impact of asthma on vulnerable populations, including communities of color and farmworker families, who face higher risks due to poor air quality and limited healthcare access. While the resolution does not create new laws, it expresses the Senate's support for asthma education, improved air quality standards, and evidence-based management practices in schools and healthcare settings. Additionally, the bill honors the Central California Asthma Collaborative for its work in community health programs.
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, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide coverage for all generally medically accepted cancer screening tests. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy, except as specified, that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage for followup screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer, as specified. The bill would prohibit a contract or policy from imposing a copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or any other form of cost sharing for this coverage. If a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy is a high deductible health plan, the bill would prohibit the contract or policy from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, or any other cost sharing on this coverage unless not imposing the deductible, coinsurance, or cost sharing would conflict with the federal requirements for high deductible health plans. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
