Senate Standing Committee on Health

The Senate Committee on Health will now come to order. Good morning. We have two bills on the agenda. File item number 1, SB 331 by Menjivar, and file item two, SB 526 by Perez, pursuant to Senate rule twenty 110d. We will begin as a subcommittee until a quorum has been established. So we will now start with file item number 1, SB 331 by Senator Menjivar. You may begin when you're ready.

Thank you, madam Chair. I am so happy that I'm able to present this bill. This is a third type of, introduction around the space of letting California kids here. But this bill, SB 331, is a bit narrower. While attempts in the past have asked to cover from all different types of plans, this is just to cover individuals under large health care plans as we're awaiting the Federal Government to give up of its approval to cover individual and small health care plans.

So what we're asking you to do is to remove everybody from the current department's program of HACCP, HACCP, and have them be covered by their large health care plans. It provides a limit of $3,000 coverage only for hearing aids. It is consistent with the terms of the plans contract in the Knox Keene Act and allows for cost sharing such as co payments and caps coinsurance at 10 percent. In budget negotiations, we have already allocated for savings.

Should this bill pass, we will be saving in the budget by allowing large health care plans to cover children 21 for their hearing aids. With that, I don't have any witnesses in support because I think everyone knows about this very well.

Thank you, Senator Menjivar. We'll now open it up to the audience. If there's anyone here who would like to give a me too in support, this is your time to come up. State your name, your organization, and your position. Thank you.

Hi. I'm Johanna Wonderly. I'm a parent of four deaf and hard of hearing children. And it's time to let California kids hear. Thank you, for the negotiations and the 10% cap.

Nora Angeles with Children Now. Proud cosponsor in support.

Morning, madam Chair members. Nick Brokaw here on behalf of the California Academy of Audiology. I just wanna thank the author and her staff for working with us for the most recent set of amendments. We're proud to strongly be in support now. Thank you.

Seeing no one else, if there's anyone that would like to speak and lead opposition to this bill, this is your time to come now to the table. Seeing no one, if there's anyone who would like to register their opposition, this is your time to come to the microphone. Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the committee. So, Senator Menjivar, I really wanna thank you so much.

I know this has been, an issue that you have worked on for a very long time, and it is extremely important to ensure that kids have the opportunity to hear very early, that impacts their ability to speak and interact with the rest of society.

And so it's extremely important, and I wanna thank you for continuing to work on this. And with that, would you like to close?

Respectfully asking for an aye vote to never be presenting this bill ever again.

Thank you. And once we have a quorum, we will take it up. Thank you.

I don't believe you.

So I am asking for all members of the Senate Health Committee to come down so that we can establish a quorum and also requesting for committee members, Senator Perez, to come down so she can present her bill. But, in the meantime, vice Chair Valladares.

Thank you, Madam Chair. A point of personal privilege to do something that I'm is bittersweet, and that is to recognize the retirement of Joe Parra, who has been a, you know, phenomenal committee consultant. And I wanna thank someone whose insight and service has helped shape California, has helped Republican health committee consultant Joe Parra. I'm reading these notes because I was gonna get a little emotional for a second. Joe has been phenomenal.

Thank you for your, your candy that you often leave here for me to keep me going as well, Joe. Joe will be retiring at the end of this year after 21 years of service in the capital, all with the Senate Republican caucus. Throughout his career, he has helped guide our caucus through some of the most challenging and consequential issues before the Health and Human Services Committee. Joe's institutional knowledge is unmatched and truly irreplaceable.

Before joining the Senate, Joe built an impressive career in public service and in health care.

He served as a legislative staffer, a field representative for congressional office, a deputy working on the Knox-Keene regulation in Governor Pete Wilson's administration, and a lobbyist for Molina Healthcare. His expertise and leadership in this space have earned him the respect of colleagues across our capital, and he has worked closely with numerous gubernatorial administrations over the years.

But beyond his expertise and his accomplishments, Joe has also been trusted a trusted colleague, a steady voice, and someone who has always been willing to share his knowledge and help others succeed. Joe has also brought a real appreciation for the things that make like make life outside of the capitol enjoyable. He loves live music and will take just about any opportunity to get out and see a show, no matter the genre or the venue.

And during interim and summer recess, Joe has made a point of keeping colleagues connected by hosting his meeting-of-the-minds lunches, bringing people together to catch up, to share ideas, and perhaps most importantly, to try out new restaurants and good food. And, of course, outside these chambers, Joe is a die-hard Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers fan. Go Dodgers. Go Lakers. So we know he has good taste at least a few things.

Right? Those lunches, concerts, and conversations may seem like small things, but they speak to who Joe truly is. He understands that relationships matter, that good ideas often come from good conversations, and that some of the best connections happen when people simply take time to sit down together. Joe, your dedication to making California a better place has made a lasting impact.

Your legacy will leave on, not live on not only through the policies and the decisions you helped shape, but through the people you mentored and the institution that you helped strengthen.

Your work has I can't look. Your work has made this institution stronger, more thoughtful, and better prepared to serve the people of California. On behalf of the Republican caucus, this committee, and the California State Senate, thank you, Joe. For 21 years of suit service, leadership, friendship, and commitment to the people of California. We are grateful for everything you have contributed, and we wish you all the very best in the next chapter.

Let's catch a game together. Thank you.

Thank you.

Senator Menjivar.

You have sat on the side of the committee my whole tenure that I've been on this committee, and you've heard us say funny things on this side. You have heard our ramblings on this side, Joe. You have engaged. You have been so kind. You have laughed with us.

I've appreciated your banter. I've appreciated your engagement and your support. Staff shares with me that you have always been such a staunch supporter of the IDD population. You have been engaged, and perhaps we're even here when the self-determination program was established. I wanna thank you so much for your good heart in elevating our most vulnerable.

You're you will be you will be missed, and I, I appreciate everything you've provided or supported us in. Thank you so much.

Senator Rubio.

Just really briefly, I just wanna make sure everyone that's listening. I always say, like, staff works so hard behind the scenes. They really do late hours, late mornings. And, you know, we get to be the face of the successes, but it's really the teams behind us who really make this building work. And 21 years- I mean, really, that's commendable because sometimes we struggle.

People have to move on, get promoted. And the fact that you're still here really committed to this cause, really committed to, to the work that you do, I just wanna say thank you to you and to everyone. Staff really is, you know, the rock stars in this building. With that, thank you so much for your service.

Well, I wanna, first off, thank Vice Chair Viadares for starting us off with this recognition. Joe, I just found out this morning that you were leaving, and selfishly, I really don't want you to go. 21 years is a lot, but the knowledge that you have, the expertise that you have is something that I appreciate and, unfortunately, is something that we don't have a lot of. And that institution leaving, we're gonna feel it. It's gonna be hard if not impossible to replace you.

I have enjoyed working with you. I enjoy coming in. Every time you come in, you come with a smile. When we're gonna have long committee hearings, you have a bunch of candy over there that you're ready to hand out to whoever so that we can stay focused. This is a sad day.

It's a, it's a celebration because you deserve it, but we're really gonna miss you. So thank you for everything that you've done. I believe we can now establish a quorum. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Alright. So we are going to take up file item one which has already been presented. Can I get a motion? Thank you. That motion is that the assembly amendments will be concurred in.

That motion was made by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

That's six-zero will place that on call. And to respect everyone's time who is here. I wanna thank Senator Menjivar for agreeing to present file item two, SB 526, on behalf of Senator Perez. Senator Menjivar, you may begin.

Thank you. Thanks. I appreciate you, allowing me to present on our colleague, Senator Perez's bill. SB 526 allows licensed affiliate clinics to utilize CDPH's fast track licensing process when opening a new health center, relocating an existing one or changing management. In 2010, CDPH implemented a clinic affiliate expediated license process to consolidate paperwork and ensure a seamless transition operation.

Although this process exists, it is not currently accessible for clinics licensed before 2010 even if those clinics are in good standing. Of course, you can see that this presents a challenge for ensuring that critical health service providers can continue to serve their communities when even when they are changing locations. The Senator knows an example of this program a a problem exists in our district.

We're in San Gabriel Valley more than a 100 for more than a hundred years, Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel San Gabriel Valley cannot have not been able to use this expediated process to establish a new flagship health center despite meeting other qualifications. This bill simply clarifies that the license prior to the establishment of the Expedia lacing process still qualifies for a fast tracked licensure.

Now I'd like to turn over to the two witnesses in support of this bill.

Thank you. You all have a total of five minutes for your presentation.

Thank you. Good morning. Angela Pontus on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. We are a proud cosponsor of SB 526. This bill's simple change to grandfather older clinics into the state's existing streamlined licensing process for affiliate health centers will save money, expand access to care, and reduce administrative burdens.

SB 526 will significantly benefit the over 100 Planned Parenthood health centers in the state, operated by the seven affiliates. However, it will also benefit all of the other safety net health community clinics in the state by streamlining the CDPH process to move location and maintain the same license. We are grateful to the author, the committee staff, and to the department for working with us to clarify the application of existing law and improve the process along the way. We ask for your aye vote.

Madam Chair, Dennis Cuevas Amaro with the California Primary Care Association Advocates, proud cosponsor as well. This bill as my colleague said is something that's has been really needed for our health centers. This has been one of the pain points with clinic licensing and trying to streamline the process. So really appreciate the technical assistance from the department and ask for your vote. Thank you.

Thank you. If there's anyone else in the audience that would like to come and register their support for this bill, this is the time for you to come forward, state your name, your organization, and your position. Seeing none, if there's anyone that would like to speak and lead opposition to this bill, this is your time to come forward to the table. Seeing none, if there's anyone that would like to register a Me Too in opposition, this is your time to come forward to the microphone.

Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the committee.

Vice Chair Viadares.

I just wanna well, you're not the author, but thank the author for bringing this forward. I come from a childcare background and it is I the licensing process for a childcare facility is rigorous. It is long. And if you don't own the facility and you need to move, it is, again, rigorous and long. There's no streamline process.

So for business in general, I understand what you're trying to do, and the importance obviously of delivering health care access in our communities, especially now as as more and more and more people are finding it challenging. I think it's common sense, it's simple, happy to support it. I wanna thank you for bringing it forward.

Thank you. Seeing no other comments.

Respect respectfully asking for a no vote.

Thank you so much. We'll at this time entertain a motion on SB 526. So moved. So moved. Moved by, senators Smallwood Cuevas.

The motion is that the Assembly amendments will be concurred in. Secretary, please call the roll. Senators Weber Pearson?

Aye. Weber Pearson, aye. Valadares? Aye. Valadares, aye.

Caballero, Durazo, Gonzales?

Gonzales, Aye. Grove, Menjivar. Aye. Menjivar, Aye. Padilla, Perez, Rubio.

Aye. Aye.

Rubio, Aye. Small would quibus. Small would quibus, Aye. Six zero, we'll leave that, open. Senate health committee members, we will keep the roll open for five minutes.

Aye.

If you want to vote, come down within the next five minutes. Thank you. We will open the roll for Senate bill number 1 SB 331. Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Seven zero. We'll place that back on call. File item number 2, SB526. Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

7-0. We'll place that on call. We'll open back up the roll and start with file item one, SB 331 by Senator Menjivar. Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

8-0 On call. We'll place that on on call. File item two, SB 526. Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

We'll place that on call. The role will be open for another minute. If there's anyone on the Senate Health Committee that would like to vote, this is your time to come down in the next sixty seconds. Thank you.

Yeah. So we will now open the roll for the final time. File item one, SB331. Secretary, please call the absent members. [Roll Call] Nine zero. That bill is out. File item two, SB 526.

[Roll Call]

Nine zero. That bill is out. Senate health committee is now adjourned.