Asm. David Alvarez

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, establishes in the Department of Consumer Affairs the California State Board of Pharmacy to license and regulate the practice of pharmacy. The Pharmacy Law authorizes a prescriber or a prescriber's authorized agent to electronically enter a prescription into a pharmacy's or hospital's computer from a location outside of the pharmacy or hospital. The Pharmacy Law makes those provisions inapplicable to prescriptions for controlled substances classified in Schedule II, III, IV, or V, except as permitted pursuant to specified provisions. That law generally punishes a knowing violation of its provisions as a misdemeanor. This bill would delete the provision making the authorization to electronically enter a prescription inapplicable to controlled substances. The bill would also authorize a pharmacist located and licensed in the state to, on behalf of a licensed health care facility, from a location outside of the facility, verify medication chart orders for appropriateness before administration consistent with federal requirements, as established in the health care facility's policies and procedures. The bill would require a health care facility to maintain a record of a pharmacist's verification of a medication chart order pursuant to that provision, as specified. By expanding the scope of the crime of violating the Pharmacy Law, this 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law establishes within state government the Office of Planning and Research as the comprehensive state planning agency for long-range planning and research. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, establishes within state government a Governor's Military Council that serves under the direction of the Military Department to advise the Governor on efforts to retain military installations and operations within this state that are necessary for the defense of the nation and to coordinate and focus those efforts. This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would establish the California Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which would require the Office of Planning and Research to grant funds and provide technical assistance to local agencies to assist with matching fund requirements in applications for funds from the federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program. The bill would require the office, in consultation with the Governor's Military Council, to develop guidelines for the program that, where possible, align with the guidelines of the federal program. This bill would require the office to use specified project criteria, define an eligible project, as specified, rank eligible projects, as specified, and award grants based on the available funds. The bill would require the office to give priority to projects located in, or that would provide services to people who live in, a disadvantaged community, as defined.

Existing law requires the Secretary of California Health and Human Services to be responsible for oversight and coordination of programs serving people living with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions, and their families. Existing law establishes the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee in the California Health and Human Services Agency, and specifies the committee's duties, including requirements for making policy and plan recommendations. This bill would rename the advisory committee to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Conditions Advisory Committee, and expand the number of members serving on the committee from 14 to at least 21, but not more than 25, members. This bill would specify the qualifications of certain members on the committee. The bill would, in the provisions governing the committee, revise references to Alzheimer's disease to also refer to related conditions.

Existing law creates the Office of Farm to Fork within the Department of Food and Agriculture, and requires the office, to the extent that resources are available, to work with various entities, including, among others, the agricultural industry and other organizations involved in promoting food access, to increase the amount of agricultural products available to underserved communities and schools in the state. Existing law requires the office to, among other things, identify urban and rural communities that lack access to healthy food, and to coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies to promote and increase awareness of programs that promote greater food access. Existing law establishes the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program in the Office of Farm to Fork, and creates the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund to collect matching funds received from a specified federal grant program and funds from other public and private sources. Under the program, the department is required to award moneys in the account to qualified entities, as defined, to encourage the purchase and consumption of California fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables by nutrition benefit clients, as defined. Existing law requires that grants only be provided upon the deposit of sufficient funds into the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account. A violation of the laws governing fruit, nut, and vegetable standards is a crime. This bill would specify that a consumer cooperative, as defined, that sells California-grown fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables and is authorized to accept specified nutrition benefits from nutrition benefit clients is a qualified entity eligible to be awarded moneys through the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program. By expanding the program to include consumer cooperatives, the bill would expand the scope of a crime and thereby 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.

This measure would declare that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourage the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States.

This measure would declare the month of October 2023 as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month.

This measure would designate the month of November 2023 to be California's Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. The measure would recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to our state and would seek to afford all Californians the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans. The measure would condemn all hate crimes and bias incidents against Sikh Americans and would encourage all Sikhs to practice their faith freely and fearlessly.

This measure would designate the month of October 2023 as California Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month. The measure would also recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Hindu heritage to the state and seek to increase awareness and understanding of the Hindu American community.