Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , enacts various health care coverage market reforms that take effect January 1, 2014. Among other things, PPACA allows the premium rate charged by a health insurance issuer offering small group or individual coverage to vary only by family composition, rating area, age, and tobacco use, as specified, and prohibits discrimination against individuals based on health status, as specified. PPACA prohibits a health insurance issuer from requiring any individual to pay a premium or contribution that is greater than the premium or contribution paid by a similarly situated individual on the basis of any health status-related factor and prohibits construing this provision to prevent a group health insurance issuer from establishing premium discounts or rebates or modifying copayments or deductibles in return for adherence to wellness programs, as specified. 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 also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law allows small employer health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies for plan years on or after January 1, 2014, to vary rates only based on age, geographic region, and family size, as specified. This bill, until January 1, 2020, would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from offering a wellness program in connection with a group health care service plan contract or group health insurance policy, or offering an incentive or reward under a group health care service plan contract or group health insurance policy, based on adherence to a wellness program, unless specified requirements are satisfied. The bill would specify that it does not apply to wellness programs established prior to its enactment provided that those programs comply with all other applicable laws, as specified. Because a willful violation of the bill's requirements relative to health care service plans 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.
Sponsored bills
This measure would declare the week of June 1, 2013, to June 7, 2013, as Commotio Cordis Awareness Week and encourage all Californians, particularly young athletes, their families, coaches, school and youth sports league officials, and medical personnel, to learn about the risks of, and treatments for, commotio cordis.
This measure would designate May 22, 2013, as Fight Against Cancer Day.
This measure would declare May 2013, Building and Safety Month and encourage all local governments to recognize the provisions in city and county government building and safety codes regulating illegal garage conversions as "Aviles Law."
This measure would state that the Legislature supports the congressional action to reverse the suspension of new student enrollments in the Job Corps, to prevent any limits to student enrollment until other cost-saving measures have been exhausted, and to maintain the full range of educational and employment services provided by the Job Corps.
Existing law, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, an initiative measure enacted by the approval of Proposition 215 at the November 6, 1996, statewide general election, authorizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Existing law enacted by the Legislature requires the establishment of a program for the issuance of identification cards to qualified patients so that they may lawfully use marijuana for medical purposes, and requires the establishment of guidelines for the lawful cultivation of marijuana grown for medical use. This bill would enact the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Control Act and would create the Division of Medical Marijuana Regulation and Enforcement within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The bill would grant the division all power necessary to, among other things, establish statewide standards for the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, transportation, distribution, and sales of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products and a statewide fee scale in relation to these activities. The bill would require the division to assist in the development of uniform policies for the taxation of medical marijuana businesses and establish a mandatory commercial registration program, as specified, which would include an identification card program. This bill would authorize the division to assess penalties for violation of these provisions. The bill would establish the Medical Marijuana Fund and would require deposit of fees and penalties into distinct accounts within the fund. The bill would continuously appropriate moneys within the fees account to the division for the purposes of administering the program. The bill would require the division to work in conjunction with law enforcement entities throughout the state to implement and enforce the rules and regulations regarding medical marijuana and to take appropriate action against businesses and individuals who fail to comply with the law. The bill would specify that its provisions are severable. The bill would make related findings and declarations. The bill would make certain violations of its provisions a crime, thereby imposing 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.
This measure would urge the International Olympic Committee to continue to include wrestling as a core sport of the Olympic Games.
This measure would proclaim May 2013 as State Capitol History Month, in order to raise awareness of the importance of the State Capitol.
This measure would declare May 6, 2013, to May 12, 2013, inclusive, and the first full week of May of every year thereafter, commencing with a Monday, as California Mental Health No Stigma Week.