Existing law establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) in the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish planning and implementation guidelines for emergency medical service systems, as specified. The guidelines are required to address, among other things, disaster response, and the authority is required to provide technical assistance to existing agencies, counties, and cities for the purpose of developing the components of emergency medical services systems. The EMSA is required to adopt rules and regulations, approved by the Commission on Emergency Medical Services, in order to carry out its duties. Existing law ratifies, approves, and sets forth the provisions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, an interstate agreement that provides for mutual assistance between states responding to emergencies and disasters. Under the compact, a person who holds a professional license, certificate, or other permit issued by a state party to the compact is deemed licensed, certified, or permitted by a state requesting assistance to render aid involving that skill to meet a declared emergency or disaster, as specified. Existing federal law establishes the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) program to support states and territories in establishing volunteer registration programs for disasters and public health and medical emergencies. Pursuant to the ESAR-VHP program, the EMSA established the Disaster Healthcare Volunteers program to register volunteers in California. Existing federal law also establishes the Medical Reserve Corps to provide for an adequate supply of volunteers in the case of a federal, state, local, or tribal public health emergency, as specified. This bill would enact the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act, which would authorize the establishment of additional volunteer registration systems by additional entities. In this regard, the bill would require a registration system to be an ESAR-VHP program or a local unit of the Medical Reserve Corps, as specified, to be designated by the EMSA as a registration system, or to be operated by one of specified types of entities, including, among others, a disaster relief organization, as defined. The bill would require that a registration system be capable of supplying the EMSA with sufficient information concerning whether a volunteer is licensed to provide specified health or veterinary services in another state or territory of the United States and in good standing before that volunteer provides those services in this state while an emergency declaration is in effect, as specified. The bill would establish scope-of-practice standards for a registered volunteer health practitioner. The bill would authorize the EMSA to limit, restrict, or otherwise regulate, among other things, the duration of practice, the geographical areas in which volunteer health practitioners may practice, and any other matters necessary to coordinate the provision of health or veterinary services during the emergency. The bill would authorize the applicable licensing board and the host entity, as defined, to restrict or modify the health or veterinary services that a volunteer health practitioner may provide. The bill would require the EMSA and host entities to coordinate their activities with the Office of Emergency Services, as specified. This bill would exempt a registered volunteer health practitioner from the unauthorized practice provisions for a health or veterinary service unless they have reason to know of an applicable limitation, modification, or restriction or that a similarly licensed practitioner in this state would not be permitted to provide that service. The bill would authorize a health care licensing board to impose administrative sanctions upon a health practitioner licensed in this state for conduct outside of this state in response to an out-of-state emergency, and to impose administrative sanctions upon a practitioner not licensed in this state for conduct in this state in response to an in-state emergency, if certain conditions are met. The bill would also provide that volunteer health practitioners providing services in California shall be considered agents or employees of the state for the purpose of workers' compensation coverage while performing services in this state or traveling to or from this state for that purpose. The bill would authorize the authority to promulgate rules, after approval by the Commission on Emergency Medical Services, in order to implement the provisions of the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act.
Asm. Joaquin Arambula
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2026 as Second Chance Month in California to raise awareness about opportunities for individuals reentering society after incarceration. The measure is a ceremonial proclamation that does not alter laws, allocate funding, or change government operations. Its primary purpose is to encourage public recognition of the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated people and to highlight available support resources during that specific month.
This measure would proclaim the week of April 20, 2026, to April 24, 2026, inclusive, as California Home Visiting Week, and would encourage all Californians to recognize and celebrate the contributions of home visiting programs and professionals and the families they serve.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of April 19 to April 25, 2026, as Mosquito Awareness Week. The measure is a commemorative resolution that officially recognizes this specific time period to highlight mosquito-related issues. It does not create new laws, impose regulations, or allocate funding, but rather serves to raise public awareness through official designation.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2026 as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in California. It requires state officials to issue a formal proclamation highlighting the importance of raising public awareness about the condition. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to recognize the month dedicated to this health issue.
This measure would proclaim March 2026 as American Red Cross Month, dedicate it to all those who continue to advance the noble legacy of the organization's founder, and encourage all Californians to reach out, support the organization's humanitarian mission, and join in their commitment to care for people in need.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of April 5, 2026, through April 11, 2026, as Special Districts Week. It directly affects special districts, which are local government entities that provide specific services like water supply or fire protection to communities. The primary mechanism is an official proclamation that encourages public awareness and recognition of the work these districts perform. This measure does not alter any laws or budgets but serves as a commemorative resolution to highlight the importance of special districts.
Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates April 27, 2026, as a day to honor the excellence and dedication of California's janitorial and cleaning workforce. The measure directly affects janitors and other property service workers who maintain sanitary environments in workplaces, schools, hospitals, and public spaces. By proclaiming this specific date, the resolution aims to bring public appreciation to the often invisible labor of these frontline professionals who contribute to public health and safety. The text highlights the essential role these workers play in reducing disease spread and supporting a healthy economy without imposing new regulations or funding requirements.
This measure would designate the portion of State Route 94 from Potrero Valley Road to Bell Valley Truck Trail in the County of San Diego as the Border Patrol Agent Daniel H. Salazar Memorial Highway. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Route 101 in the County of Humboldt as the Assembly Member Patty Berg Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.