Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, has minimum essential health care coverage.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Act of 2016, which would require the California State University and the California Community Colleges to provide their students information about insurance affordability programs commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to meet this requirement by developing an informational item or amending an existing enrollment form or Internet Web site to provide students information about insurance affordability programs, as specified. The act would authorize each campus to also meet this requirement by including a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about insurance affordability programs for students. The bill would repeal these new provisions on January 1, 2021.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would make the repeal date for these provisions January 1, 2021, and thereby extend these requirements until that date. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, has minimum essential health care coverage.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Act of 2016, which would require the California State University and the California Community Colleges to provide their students information about insurance affordability programs commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to meet this requirement by developing an informational item or amending an existing enrollment form or Internet Web site to provide students information about insurance affordability programs, as specified. The act would authorize each campus to also meet this requirement by including a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about insurance affordability programs for students. The bill would repeal these new provisions on January 1, 2021.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would make the repeal date for these provisions January 1, 2021, and thereby extend these requirements until that date. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, has minimum essential health care coverage.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Act of 2016, which would require the California State University and the California Community Colleges to provide their students information about health care coverage options insurance affordability programs commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to meet this requirement by developing an informational item or amending an existing enrollment form or Internet Web site to provide students information about health care coverage options, insurance affordability programs, as specified. The act would authorize each campus to also meet this requirement by including a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options insurance affordability programs for students. The bill would repeal these new provisions on January 1, 2021.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would make the repeal date for these provisions January 1, 2021, and thereby extend these requirements until that date. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, is covered under has minimum essential coverage for each month beginning after January 2013. health care coverage.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016 to provide uninsured students of the California State University and the California Community Colleges with 2016, which would require the California State University and the California Community Colleges to provide their students information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would, among other things, would authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to develop meet this requirement by developing an informational item or amend amending an existing enrollment form, form or Internet Web site to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options, as specified. The act would authorize each campus to also include meet this requirement by including a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students. The bill would repeal these new provisions on January 1, 2021.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would make the repeal date for these provisions January 1, 2024, 2021, and thereby extend these requirements until that date. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, is covered under minimum essential coverage for each month beginning after January 2013.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016 to provide uninsured students of the California State University and the California Community Colleges with information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would, among other things, authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form, or Internet Web site to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options, as specified. The act would authorize each campus to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would delete make the repeal date for these provisions and thereby extend these requirements indefinitely. January 1, 2024, and thereby extend these requirements until that date. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, is covered under minimum essential coverage for each month beginning after January 2013.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016 to provide uninsured students of the California State University and the California Community Colleges with information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would, among other things, authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form, or Internet Web site to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options. options, as specified. The act would authorize each campus to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for children and families. The bill would require the State Department of Education to develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and would require the department to make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2017, and provide written copies to a campus upon request. students.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would delete the repeal date for these provisions and thereby extend these requirements indefinitely. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses.

Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires an applicable individual to ensure that he or she, and any dependent of that individual, is covered under minimum essential coverage for each month beginning after January 2013.

This bill would establish the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016 to provide uninsured students of the California State University and the California Community Colleges with information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance commencing with the 201718 academic year. The act would, among other things, authorize each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form, or Internet Web site to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options. The act would authorize each campus to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for children and families. The bill would require the State Department of Education to develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and would require the department to make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2017, and provide written copies to a campus upon request.

By requiring community colleges to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires a public school, for purposes of the 201516, 201617, and 201718 school years, to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or legal guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school to also include a factsheet with its enrollment forms. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, among other things, develop a standardized template for the factsheet and the informational item or amendment and make those templates available on its Internet Web site on or before August 1, 2015. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2019.

This bill would delete the repeal date for these provisions and thereby extend these requirements indefinitely. By extending these duties on local school districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 2308

Author:(Roger Hernández)

As Amended Ver:June 28, 2016

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED.

SUMMARY: Extends, from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2021, the sunset date in existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance; and, requires the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC) to provide specified information regarding insurance affordability programs, including how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California.

The Senate amendments remove the term "health care options" and instead require CSU and CCC to provide information regarding "insurance affordability programs, including how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California".

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange, known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2. Requires school districts to add to enrollment forms, for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 school years, information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

1. Unknown costs for additional enrollment in Medi-Cal (General Fund and federal funds). Giving CSU and CCC students and continuing to provide K-12 parents information about the availability of Medi-Cal coverage may encourage some consumers to opt to apply for Medi-Cal, as intended. The extent to which this will occur is unknown. This effect may be small, given the significant public awareness of access to coverage through Covered California and Medi-Cal following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the imposition of an individual mandate to have health care coverage. However, even a very small overall increase in Medi-Cal enrollment would have a significant fiscal impact since the cost to provide coverage to an adult in Medi-Cal ranges from about $1,200 per year to $6,000 per year (General Fund and federal funds).
2. CSU anticipates one-time costs of $50,000 General Fund in staff time to comply with this bill.
3. The CCCs anticipate minor costs for campuses to comply with this bill.
4. Continuation of likely minor, reimbursable state mandate costs for schools to provide information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance on school enrollment forms. Without this bill, this requirement would sunset after the 2017-18 school year. See staff comments. (Proposition 98)

COMMENTS: According to the author, the expansion of health care coverage options under the ACA generated approximately seven million newly eligible Californians as of January 1, 2014. Of those nearly 67% qualify for Medi-Cal. There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the ACA has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.

AB 2706 (Hernández), Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014, requires the provision of health care coverage information to K-12 children and their families at the time of school enrollment. According to the author, it is a successful part of health care outreach using schools as a trusted messenger for helpful information about children’s health and wellbeing.

This bill would create a similar model for CCC and CSU campuses. According to the author, by capitalizing on local partnerships between CCC, CSU and local community resources, this bill will help thousands of eligible families and individuals enroll into health coverage. The author notes that research shows that California students who newly enroll in a health coverage program experience a nearly 63% improvement in performance and are therefore better prepared to succeed in a learning environment.

Analysis Prepared by: Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0004201

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 2308

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 8-0, 6/22/16

AYES: Liu, Block, Hancock, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning, Pan, Vidak

NO VOTE RECORDED: Huff

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 8/11/16

AYES: Lara, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza

NOES: Bates, Nielsen

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 56-24, 6/2/16 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: California Coverage and Health Initiatives

DIGEST: This bill requires the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC’s) to provide students with information about health care coverage options. This bill also extends the sunset date by two years to January 1, 2021, for K-12 school districts to provide parents with this information on school enrollment forms.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange, known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
   
2. Authorizes school districts and county offices of education to incorporate into the School Lunch Program application packet or notification of eligibility that the student may qualify for free or reduced-cost health coverage under the California Health Benefit Exchange. (Education Code § 49557.2)

This bill:

1. Extends, from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2021, the sunset date in existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information insurance affordability programs, as specified.
2. Establishes the California Health Care Coverage Act of 2016.
3. Requires, commencing with the 2017-18 academic year, each campus of the CSU and CCC to provide students contact information about health care coverage options including how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California. To satisfy this requirement, authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to:
   1. Develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form or Internet Web site to provide students information on insurance affordability programs. Provides that a campus may use information provided in the standard template developed by the California Department of Education, as specified.
   2. Include a fact sheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students.
4. Prohibits a CSU or CCC campus from discriminating against a student who does not have health care coverage or use any information related to a student's health care coverage or interest in learning about health care coverage in any manner that would bring harm to the student.
5. Establishes a sunset date for the CSU and CCC requirements of January 1, 2021.

Comments

Need for the bill. According to the author’s office, “the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded health care coverage options and made approximately seven million Californians newly eligible for coverage as of January 1, 2014. Of those nearly 67% qualify for Medi-Cal. There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.”

By utilizing schools and universities, this bill is intended to provide essential information and educate students and families about eligibility and available health coverage programs.

Related efforts. AB 2706 (Hernandez, Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014) was enacted to require K-12 school districts and charter schools to provide health care coverage information to students and their families at the time of school enrollment. This bill creates a similar form of outreach for CSU and CCC in which the campuses can provide students with information on health care coverage options through enrollment forms, fact sheets attached to the enrollment forms, or items posted on Internet Web sites.

The California Department of Education’s Web site also contains information about the ALL IN for Health Campaign for schools, early learning programs, and after school programs. This information includes advice that schools can provide information to families about health coverage options.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• Unknown costs for additional enrollment in Medi-Cal (General Fund and federal funds). Giving CSU and CCC students and continuing to provide K-12 parents information about the availability of Medi-Cal coverage may encourage some consumers to opt to apply for Medi-Cal, as intended. The extent to which this will occur is unknown. This effect may be small, given the significant public awareness of access to coverage through Covered California and Medi-Cal following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the imposition of an individual mandate to have health care coverage. However, even a very small overall increase in Medi-Cal enrollment would have a significant fiscal impact since the cost to provide coverage to an adult in Medi-Cal ranges from about $1,200 per year to $6,000 per year (General Fund and federal funds).
  
• CSU anticipates one-time costs of $50,000 General Fund in staff time to comply with this bill.
  
• The CCCs anticipate minor costs for campuses to comply with this bill.
  
• Continuation of likely minor, reimbursable state mandate costs for schools to provide information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance on school enrollment forms. Without this bill, this requirement would sunset after the 2017-18 school year. (Proposition 98)

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/12/16)

California Coverage and Health Initiatives (source)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

California Black Health Network

California Children’s Health Coverage Coalition

California Faculty Association

California Health+ Advocates

California Immigrant Policy Center

California Primary Care Association

California School Employees Association

California State Student Association

California Teachers Association

Children’s Partnership

Community Health Councils

Health Access California

National Association of Social Workers – California Chapter

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/12/16)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 56-24, 6/2/16

AYES: Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Lopez, Low, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Williams, Wood, Rendon

NOES: Achadjian, Bigelow, Brough, Chang, Chávez, Dahle, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Jones, Linder, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, Melendez, Obernolte, Olsen, Patterson, Steinorth, Wagner, Waldron, Wilk

Prepared by:

8/15/16 20:22:18

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular Session

AB 2308 (Roger Hernández) - Health care coverage: information to students

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

This bill requires the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC) to provide students with information about insurance affordability programs, including how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California. This bill also extends the sunset date by two years to January 1, 2021, for K-12 school districts to provide parents with this information on school enrollment forms.

Fiscal Impact:

• Unknown costs for additional enrollment in Medi-Cal (General Fund and federal funds). Giving CSU and CCC students and continuing to provide K-12 parents information about the availability of Medi-Cal coverage may encourage some consumers to opt to apply for Medi-Cal, as intended. The extent to which this will occur is unknown. This effect may be small, given the significant public awareness of access to coverage through Covered California and Medi-Cal following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the imposition of an individual mandate to have health care coverage. However, even a very small overall increase in Medi-Cal enrollment would have a significant fiscal impact since the cost to provide coverage to an adult in Medi-Cal ranges from about $1,200 per year to $6,000 per year (General Fund and federal funds).
  
• CSU anticipates one-time costs of $50,000 General Fund in staff time to comply with this bill.
  
• The CCCs anticipate minor costs for campuses to comply with this bill.
  
• Continuation of likely minor, reimbursable state mandate costs for schools to provide information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance on school enrollment forms. Without this bill, this requirement would sunset after the 2017-18 school year. See staff comments. (Proposition 98)

Background:

Existing law establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Existing law requires, until the 2017-18 school year, a school to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form to provide the parent or guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance. Existing law requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to develop a standardized template including this information. (Education Code Section 49452.9)

Existing law authorizes school districts and county offices of education to incorporate into the School Lunch Program application packet or notification of eligibility that the student may qualify for free or reduced-cost health coverage under the California Health Benefit Exchange. (Education Code Section 49557.2)

According to the author’s office, “There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.” By utilizing schools and universities, this bill is intended to provide essential information and educate students and families about eligibility and available health coverage programs.

Proposed Law:

This bill establishes the California Health Care Coverage Act of 2016. It requires, beginning with the 2017-18 academic year, each CSU and CCC campus to offer students information about insurance affordability programs, including how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California. This requirement is scheduled to sunset January 1, 2021. This bill also extends the sunset date by two years to January 1, 2021, for K-12 school districts to provide parents with this information on school enrollment forms.

In providing CSU and CCC students information about insurance affordability programs, including how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California, this bill authorizes campuses to: (1) develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form or website and use information provided in the standard template developed by the CDE; and (2) include a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information.

This bill also prohibits CSU or CCC from discriminating against a student who does not have health coverage, or use any information relating to a student’s health care coverage or interest in learning about health care coverage, in any manner that would bring harm to the student.

Staff Comments:

This bill extends the sunset of the mandated requirement on schools to add an informational item to its enrollment forms, or amend an existing enrollment form, in order to provide the parent or guardian information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance. Because the 2015-16 school year was the first year that schools were required to implement this requirement, the one-time activity of updating enrollment forms has likely been completed by most schools.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Carol Liu, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No: AB 2308

Subject: Health care coverage: information to students

SUMMARY

This bill requires the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC’s) to provide students with information about health care coverage options. This bill also extends the sunset date by two years to January 1, 2021, for K-12 school districts to provide parents with this information on school enrollment forms.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange, known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
   
2. Authorizes school districts and county offices of education to incorporate into the School Lunch Program application packet or notification of eligibility that the student may qualify for free or reduced-cost health coverage under the California Health Benefit Exchange. (Education Code § 49557.2)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Extends, from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2021, the sunset date in existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance, as specified.
2. Establishes the California Health Care Coverage Act of 2016.
3. Requires, commencing with the 2017-18 academic year, each campus of the CSU and CCC to provide students contact information about health care coverage options. To satisfy this requirement, authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to:
   1. Develop an informational item or amend an existing enrollment form or Internet Web site to provide students information about health care coverage options. Provides that a campus may use information provided in the standard template developed by the California Department of Education, as specified.
   2. Include a fact sheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students.
4. Prohibits a California State University (CSU) or California Community College (CCC) campus from discriminating against a student who does not have health care coverage or use any information related to a student's health care coverage or interest in learning about health care coverage in any manner that would bring harm to the student.
5. Establishes a sunset date for the CSU and CCC requirements of January 1, 2021.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author’s office, “the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded health care coverage options and made approximately seven million Californians newly eligible for coverage as of January 1, 2014. Of those nearly 67% qualify for Medi-Cal. There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.”

By utilizing schools and universities, this bill is intended to provide essential information and educate students and families about eligibility and available health coverage programs.

1. Related efforts. AB 2706 (Hernandez, Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014) was enacted to require K-12 school districts and charter schools to provide health care coverage information to students and their families at the time of school enrollment. This bill creates a similar form of outreach for CSU and CCC in which the campuses can provide students with information on health care coverage options through enrollment forms, fact sheets attached to the enrollment forms, or items posted on Internet Web sites.

The California Department of Education’s Web site also contains information about the ALL IN for Health Campaign for schools, early learning programs, and after school programs. This information includes advice that schools can provide information to families about health coverage options. http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr14ltr0310.asp

1. Clarifying amendments. At the author’s request, staff recommends that the bill be amended to: specify that the information about health care coverage options include how to apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California; and replace the references to “information on health care coverage options and enrollment assistance” with “information on insurance affordability programs.”
2. Fiscal impact. According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill would result in the following:
   1. K-12. The estimated state reimbursable cost of the original legislation, as estimated by this Committee, was $700,000 to $1.1 million annually (General Fund (GF)-Prop 98) to disseminate the required information to 6.2 million students from 2015-16 through 2017-18. It is too early to know the actual costs, but this bill would extend these costs through 2020-2021.
   2. California Community Colleges (CCCs). Assuming similar costs to K-12 for providing the required information to 2.3 million CCC students yields annual state reimbursable costs of $250,000 to $400,000 (GF-Prop).
   3. California State University. Annual General Fund costs to provide the information to all students would be around $50,000.

SUPPORT

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

California Black Health Network

California Children’s Health Coverage Coalition

California Coverage and Health Initiatives

California Faculty Association

California Health Advocates

California Immigrant Policy Center

California Primary Care Association

California School Employees Association

California State Student Association

California Teachers Association

Children’s Partnership

Community Health Councils

Health Access California

National Association of Social Workers – California Chapter

OPPOSITION

None received.

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:

Author:(Roger Hernández)

As Amended Ver:May 31, 2016

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Establishes the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016, and requires the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC) to provide specified information regarding health care coverage options to students. Specifically, this bill:

1. Extends, from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2021, the sunset date in existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance.
2. Requires, commencing with the 2017-18 academic year, each campus of the CSU and CCC to provide students contact information about health care coverage options.
3. Authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to:
   1. Developing an informational item or amending existing enrollment forms or Web sites to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options.
   2. Include a fact sheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students.
4. Prohibits a CSU or CCC campus from discriminating against a student who does not have health care coverage or use any information related to a student's health care coverage in any manner that would bring harm to the student.
5. Establishes a sunset date for the CSU and CCC requirements of January 1, 2021.
6. Provides for reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for implementation costs, should the Commission on State Mandates determine state mandated local costs are incurred by this bill.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange, known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2. Requires school districts to add to enrollment forms, for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 school years, information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

1. K-12. The estimated state reimbursable cost of the original legislation, as estimated by this committee, was $700,000 to $1.1 million annually (General Fund (GF)-Prop 98) to disseminate the required information to 6.2 million students from 2015-16 through 2017-18. It is too early to know the actual costs, but this bill would extend these costs through 2020-2021.
2. CCC. Assuming similar costs to K-12 for providing the required information to 2.3 million CCC students yields annual state reimbursable costs of $250,000 to $400,000 (GF-Prop).
3. CSU. Annual General Fund costs to provide the information to all students would be around $50,000.

COMMENTS: According to the author, the expansion of health care coverage options under the ACA generated approximately seven million newly eligible Californians as of January 1, 2014. Of those nearly 67% qualify for Medi-Cal. There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the ACA has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.

AB 2706 (Hernandez), Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014, requires the provision of health care coverage information to K-12 children and their families at the time of school enrollment. According to the author, it is a successful part of health care outreach using schools as a trusted messenger for helpful information about children’s health and wellbeing.

This bill would create a similar model for CCC and CSU campuses. According to the author, by capitalizing on local partnerships between CCC, CSU and local community resources, this bill will help thousands of eligible families and individuals enroll into health coverage. The author notes that research shows that California students who newly enroll in a health coverage program experience a nearly 63% improvement in performance and are therefore better prepared to succeed in a learning environment.

Analysis Prepared by: Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0003141

Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2308

Author:(Roger Hernández) – As Amended Ver:April 26, 2016

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY:

This bill:

1. Extends to, January 1, 2024, the sunset date on the requirement that public schools provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance.
2. Requires each campus of the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC) to: (a) identify its uninsured students and offer these students; (b) contact information for local entities providing health care enrollment assistance; and (c) information about health coverage options.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. K-12. The estimated state reimbursable cost of the original legislation, as estimated by this committee, was $700,000 to $1.1 million annually (GF-Prop 98) to disseminate the required information to 6.2 million students from 2015-16 through 2017-18. It is too early to know the actual costs, but this bill would extend these costs through 2024-25.
2. CCC. Assuming similar costs to K-12 for providing the required information to 2.3 million CCC students yields annual state reimbursable costs of $250,000 to $400,000 (GF-Prop). These costs could be significantly greater, however, as unlike for K-12 schools, this bill requires the community colleges to identify their uninsured students then provide this cohort with specific information. The additional administrative costs of this activity could total several million dollars annually systemwide.
3. CSU. Annual General Fund costs to provide the information to all students would be around $50,000, but again, the need to first identify uninsured students could result in administrative costs exceed $1 million systemwide.

COMMENTS:

Background and Purpose. AB 2706 (Hernandez), Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014, requires the provision of health care coverage information to K-12 children and their families at the time of school enrollment. According to the author, it is a successful part of health care outreach using schools as a trusted messenger for helpful information about children’s health and wellbeing. AB 2308 extends this requirement for an additional five years.

This bill creates a similar model for CCC and CSU campuses. According to the author, by capitalizing on local partnerships between CCC, CSU and local community resources, this bill will help thousands of eligible families and individuals enroll into health coverage.

Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2308 (

Author:Roger Hernández) – As Amended Ver:April 13, 2016

[This bill was referred to the Higher Education Committee and was heard by that committee as it relates to issues under its jurisdiction.]

SUBJECT: Health care coverage: enrollment assistance

SUMMARY: Removes the January 1, 2019 sunset date from existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance, and establishes the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016. Specifically, this bill:

1. Removes the January 1, 2019 sunset date from existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance.
2. Requires, commencing with the 2017-18 academic year, each campus of the CSU and CCC to identify uninsured students and offer these students contact information for local entities to provide health care enrollment assistance and information about health care coverage options.
3. Authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to identify uninsured students through any of the following:
   1. Adding health insurance screening questions and contact information for local health care enrollment assistance entities to its enrollment forms;
   2. Developing a screening method to identify uninsured students and offer these students contact information for local health care enrollment entities; and,
   3. Partnering with local organizations to ensure students who are identified as uninsured by the campus receive health care enrollment assistance.
4. Authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options through either of the following:
   1. Using a template developed, as required, by the State Department of Education (SDE) that is made available on the SDE website by August 1, 2017, and upon request provided to the CSU and CCC campuses; or,
   2. Developing an informational item or amending existing enrollment forms or websites to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options.
5. Authorizes a CSU or CCC campus to include a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students.
6. Prohibits a CSU or CCC campus from discriminating against a student who does not have health care coverage or use any information related to a student's health care coverage in any manner that would bring harm to the student.
7. Provides for reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for implementation costs, should the Commission on State Mandates determine state mandated local costs are incurred by this bill.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange, known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2. Requires school districts to add to enrollment forms, for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 school years, information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance.

FISCAL EFFECT: State-mandated local program

COMMENTS:

Purpose of this bill. According to the author, the expansion of health care coverage options under the ACA generated approximately seven million newly eligible Californians as of January 1, 2014. Of those nearly 67% qualify for Medi-Cal. There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the ACA has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.

AB 2706 (Hernandez), Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014, requires the provision of health care coverage information to K-12 children and their families at the time of school enrollment. According to the author, it is a successful part of health care outreach using schools as a trusted messenger for helpful information about children’s health and wellbeing.

This bill would create a similar model for CCC and CSU campuses. According to the author, by capitalizing on local partnerships between CCC, CSU and local community resources, this bill will help thousands of eligible families and individuals enroll into health coverage. The author notes that research shows that California students who newly enroll in a health coverage program experience a nearly 63% improvement in performance and are therefore better prepared to succeed in a learning environment.

K-12 Impact. This bill removes the sunset date for the requirement in existing law that school districts add health care information to K-12 district enrollment forms. That requirement was enacted by AB 2706 (Roger Hernández), Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014. The purpose of that requirement is to help inform families of health insurance options available to them under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ADA) and the California Health Benefit Exchange. The Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis estimated a state-reimbursable mandated cost of between $700,000 and $1.1 million. It is still too early to know what the actual costs are.

Sunset date repeal. Generally, the Legislature prefers to extend sunset dates rather than repeal them. This ensures that the Legislature periodically reviews state policy to determine whether it should be continued, repealed, or modified. In this case, the requirement to provide families with information was predicated in large part on the fact that the ADA and the California Health Benefit Exchange were new and unknown to many families. As time goes on, families will become more familiar with the system and their options. In fact, nearly all families will already be enrolled in an insurance program before their children are enrolled in school. Accordingly, the need for this mandate may substantially decline or even be eliminated over time. Having a sunset date ensures the Legislature will reassess the need.

In addition, a report issued by Covered California last October shows that awareness of the ACA among Californian's grew to 90% in 2015. The report is based on a survey to measure the public's knowledge of Covered California. Most survey respondents reported receiving information from either someone knowledgeable about Covered California (56%), the Covered California website (58%), or both (the percentages add up to more than 100%, because respondents could identify more than one source).

For these reasons, staff recommends that, instead of repealing the K-12 sunset, the bill be amended to extend the sunset date to January 1, 2024 (a five year extension).

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

California Teachers Association

Opposition

None received

Analysis Prepared by: Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087

Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2308 (

Author:Roger Hernández) – As Introduced Ver:February 18, 2016

SUBJECT: Health care coverage: enrollment assistance

SUMMARY: Establishes the California Health Care Coverage Enrollment Assistance Act of 2016, and requires the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC) to provide specified information regarding health care coverage options to students. Specifically, this bill:

1. Removes the January 1, 2019, sunset date from existing law that requires public schools to provide parents or legal guardians with information regarding health care coverage options and assistance.
2. Requires, commencing with the 2017-18 academic year, each campus of the CSU and CCC to identify uninsured students and offer these students contact information for local entities to provide health care enrollment assistance and information about health care coverage options.
3. Authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to identify uninsured students through any of the following:
   1. Adding health insurance screening questions and contact information for local health care enrollment assistance entities to its enrollment forms;
   2. Developing a screening method to identify uninsured students and offer these students contact information for local health care enrollment entities; and,
   3. Partnering with local organizations to ensure students who are identified as uninsured by the campus receive health care enrollment assistance.
4. Authorizes CSU and CCC campuses to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options through either of the following:
   1. Using a template developed, as required, by the State Department of Education (SDE) that is made available on the SDE website by August 1, 2017, and upon request provided to the CSU and CCC campuses; or,
   2. Developing an informational item or amending existing enrollment forms or websites to provide uninsured students information about health care coverage options.
5. Authorizes a CSU or CCC campus to include a factsheet with its enrollment forms explaining basic information about affordable health care coverage options for students.
6. Prohibits a CSU or CCC campus from discriminating against a student who does not have health care coverage or use any information related to a student's health care coverage in any manner that would bring harm to the student.
7. Provides for reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for implementation costs, should the Commission on State Mandates determine state mandated local costs are incurred by this bill.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange, known as Covered California, as an independent state entity to serve as the marketplace for Californians to purchase health care coverage and as a way to meet the personal responsibility requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2. Requires school districts to add to enrollment forms, for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 school years, information about health care coverage options and enrollment assistance.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS: Purpose of this bill. According to the author, the expansion of health care coverage options under the ACA generated approximately seven million newly eligible Californians as of January 1, 2014. Of those nearly 67% qualify for Medi-Cal. There is great opportunity to enroll the eligible; however, notable barriers exist for populations to enroll in health care coverage including lack of awareness about the programs, difficult application or re-enrollment processes, and stigmas associated with enrolling into low-income health insurance and other public programs. While the ACA has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Californians, a significant number of the population has been left behind in the absence of proactive and practical solutions.

AB 2706 (Hernandez), Chapter 827, Statutes of 2014, requires the provision of health care coverage information to K-12 children and their families at the time of school enrollment. According to the author, it is a successful part of health care outreach using schools as a trusted messenger for helpful information about children’s health and wellbeing.

This bill would create a similar model for CCC and CSU campuses. According to the author, by capitalizing on local partnerships between CCC, CSU and local community resources, this bill will help thousands of eligible families and individuals enroll into health coverage. The author notes that research shows that California students who newly enroll in a health coverage program experience a nearly 63% improvement in performance and are therefore better prepared to succeed in a learning environment.

CSU Health Insurance Education Project (HIEP). HIEP was a project established in 2013 to educate CSU students, their families, and campus staff about the ACA and the opportunity it offers many in the CSU community to get affordable health insurance. HIEP had representatives on 12 CSU campuses helping to educate students and their families about their healthcare options through a variety of activities, including classroom presentations, flyer distribution, enrollment events, and other outreach efforts. CSU HIEP officially concluded its outreach and education activities on February 28, 2015. According to survey results, HIEP provided outreach on 15 campuses, covering 87% of the total CSU student population. Poll results found that about 1/3 of CSU students on the campuses signed up for Covered California or Medi-Cal, and about 1/3 of students responded that at least one family member signed up for Covered Calfiornia or Medi-Cal. In total, the poll revealed that approximately 260,000 students and family members signed up for one of the two programs.

Education Committee jurisdiction. This bill removes the sunset date for the requirement in existing law that school districts add health care information to K-12 district enrollment forms. This change falls within the jurisdiction of the Education Committee and the Education Committee has requested to the Rules Committee to hear this bill.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

California Black Health Network

California Children's Health Coverage Coalition

California Coverage & Health Initiatives (sponsor)

California Immigrant Policy Center

California Primary Care Association

California School Employees Association

The Children's Partnership

Health Access California

National Association of Social Workers-California Chapter

Opposition

None on File

Analysis Prepared by: Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960