Health Officers Association of California

HOAC's semi-annual membership meeting April 30 - May 2

Thank you to everyone who attended our semi-annual membership meeting and CME session at the Embassy Suites in Sacramento on April 30 to May 2.

The meeting was a great success.

California Legislature is in session: Budget, Health Care Reform major issues

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a budget that includes 10% reductions in spending across all state programs. Information can be found at the governor's website.

The Health Care Reform bill, AB 1x, was passed by the Assembly but died in the Senate Health Committee. The governor and other lawmakers have vowed to keep pushing for health care reform. Stay tuned for details.

Governor signs HOAC's AB 1323

On July 2, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1323, a HOAC sponsored bill to update laws around Tuberculosis testing. The bill is now enrolled as Chapter 24 of the Statutes of 2007. HOAC would like to thank Assemblymember DeSaulnier and his staff for working with us on this important legislation.

HOAC sponsors four bills in 2007

In February of 2007, HOAC announced its four sponsored bills for the 2007 legislative session.

AB 211 (Jones) would authorize local health officers to participate in the local land use planning and transportation planning process. Under current law, no specific authority exists. This will make it easier for health officers to assure that new communities are planned with public health in mind.

AB 1323 (DeSaulnier) changes statutory language around Tuberculosis testing. Instead of requiring a Mantoux skin test as a condition of employment in certain fields, this new law allows any test for Tuberculosis that has been approved by the FDA and recommended by the CDC. The governor signed AB 1323 on July 2, 2007.

AB 1646 (DeSaulnier) would allow Boards of Supervisors to create special districts for the funding of crucial public health and safety measures, such as disease surveillance and containment. AB 1646 is a two year bill.

SB 356 (Negrete-McLeod) would enable the State Department of Public Health to quickly add conditions to the list of diseases for which cultures must be submitted to public health laboratories for identification. The current process does not allow for a rapid public health response to emerging health problems. SB 356 stipulates that the Department must consult with CCLHO and CAPHLD before changing the list.