Sen. Bob Archuleta

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, including federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, to the extent that federal financial participation is available, FQHC and RHC services are reimbursed on a per-visit basis, as specified. "Visit" is defined as a face-to-face encounter between a patient of an FQHC or RHC and a physician or other specified health care professionals. Under existing law, "visit" also includes an encounter using video or audio-only synchronous interaction or an asynchronous store and forward modality, as specified. This bill would authorize reimbursement for a maximum of 2 visits that take place on the same day at a single site, whether through a face-to-face or telehealth-based encounter, if after the first visit the patient suffers illness or injury that requires additional diagnosis or treatment, or if the patient has a medical visit and either a mental health visit or a dental visit, as defined. The bill would require the department, by July 1, 2024, to submit a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reflecting those provisions. The bill would include a licensed acupuncturist within those health care professionals covered under the definition of a "visit." The bill would also make a change to the provision relating to physicians and would make other technical changes.

Existing law establishes the Department of Transportation and vests it with full possession and control of all state highways and all property and rights in property for state highway purposes. Under existing law, the department administers the Clean California Local Grant Program of 2021 to provide funding, upon appropriation, for grants to specified local entities for purposes of beautifying and cleaning up local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, transit centers, and other public spaces, and administers the Clean California State Beautification Program of 2021 to provide funding, upon appropriation, for purposes of beautifying and cleaning up state highways. This bill would enact the Highway Greening Act, which would require the department to complete a statewide strategic plan, as specified, to work to achieve at least a 10% increase of green highways, as defined, in urban areas, disadvantaged communities, and low-income communities by 2035. The bill would require the department to submit the plan to the Legislature and specified committees of the Legislature on or before June 30, 2025.

Existing law establishes the Air Quality Improvement Program that is administered by the State Air Resources Board for the purposes of funding projects related to, among other things, the reduction of criteria air pollutants and improvement of air quality. Pursuant to its existing statutory authority, the state board has established the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, as a part of the Air Quality Improvement Program, to promote the production and use of zero-emission vehicles by providing rebates for the purchase of new zero-emission vehicles. The bill would require the state board, as a part of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, to provide rebates for zero-emission electric pickup trucks, as defined, so that fuel cell electric pickup trucks and battery electric pickup trucks receive rebates that are $2,500 more than the rebates that are provided for other fuel cell electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles, respectively.

This measure would condemn Azerbaijan's blockade of the Republic of Artsakh and urge the United States government and the international community to take action to protect and assist the Armenians of Artsakh.

This measure would state the support of the State of California in admitting Washington, D.C. into the Union as a state of the United States of America and urge the members of the United States Congress to enact federal legislation granting statehood to the people of Washington, D.C.

This measure would urge the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems to prioritize renewable, clean hydrogen for California, as provided.

The California Constitution provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, and federal law permanently enjoins the state from enforcing this constitutional provision. This measure would repeal this unenforceable constitutional provision and would instead provide that the right to marry is a fundamental right, as specified.

This measure would condemn Azerbaijan's blockade of the Republic of Artsakh and urge the United States government to take immediate action to assist the Armenians of Artsakh.

Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which administers various programs that provide benefits to veterans, including educational assistance and farm and home purchase assistance. Existing law authorizes each county to appoint a veterans service officer. Existing law requires that these officers administer aid to veterans, investigate veterans' claims and requests relating to veterans' aid, and to perform any other veteran-related services as requested by the county board of supervisors. This bill, until January 1, 2029, would authorize the Counties of Los Angeles and Nevada to create a veteran suicide prevention training pilot program to offer individuals in each county specialized training and certification in suicide prevention with military-connected populations. The bill would require the program to train individuals to identify indicators of elevated suicide risk and provide emergency crisis intervention and referrals for veterans, as specified. This bill would require counties establishing the program to collaborate to hire a suicide prevention subject matter expert (SME) with expertise in implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices and evidence-informed interventions with military-connected populations. The bill would require the SME to, among other things, develop an individualized intense training curriculum based on the needs of the counties and to develop a process for collaboration and communication with current community partners. The bill would also require the counties in the program to submit a report to the Legislature on or before September 15, 2026.