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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Name>Bonta</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Sections 17031 and 17032 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to indigent health care.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>indigent health care</ns0:RelatingClause>
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<ns0:Subject>Indigent health care: information and planning.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law requires each county to provide aid, commonly known as a general assistance program, to the county’s indigent residents who are not supported by other means and are ineligible for the Medi-Cal program, as specified. Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to county-based health care services for indigent individuals and to reporting systems for those services.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, by July 1, 2027, to establish an internet website where the public can access information on safety-net health care services in the state. The bill would require that the website include certain information and resources, including, among other items, information about each county medically indigent health care program for uninsured individuals. The bill would require the department, in consultation with certain entities, to review
the information and resources on the website, as specified.</html:p>
<html:p>The bill would require each county, no later than January 1, 2028, to prepare and submit to the department a plan to operate programs to provide health care to medically indigent individuals, as necessary to meet additional need due to reduced access to health care coverage. The bill would require that the plan include information on projected caseload and expenditure increases, projected investment, and assessment of funding sources, as specified. By creating new planning duties for counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>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.</html:p>
<html:p>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 the statutory provisions noted above.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 17031 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Welfare and Institutions Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>17031.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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In order to ensure that people have accurate and comprehensive information when accessing safety-net health care services in California, by July 1, 2027, the State Department of Health Care Services shall establish an internet website where the public can access information on safety-net health care services in the state.
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<html:p>
(b)
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The internet website established pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include all of the following information and resources:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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A person’s legally protected right to emergency medical care under state and federal law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Payment support resources, including coverage options, state programs,
hospital charity care, and other assistance that is available to help people access health care services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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Information about each county medically indigent health care program for uninsured individuals, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
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<html:p>
(A)
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All eligibility requirements, including age, residency requirements, and income limits.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
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The cost of services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
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The telephone number to reach the appropriate county program administrator.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
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A hyperlink or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for each county internet website related to safety-net services or medically indigent programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
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Any other information or
resources that will assist an individual seeking comprehensive and accurate information about accessing medically indigent health care services in the state.
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<html:p>
(c)
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The department shall consult with the California State Association of Counties, local health officers, organizations advocating for consumers’ access to health care, and other entities with expertise in health care for medically indigent individuals, as determined by the department.
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(d)
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The internet website shall have mobile capabilities.
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(e)
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The internet website shall comply with Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794d), regulations implementing that act as set forth in Part 1194 (commencing with Section 1194.1) of Chapter XI of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and any laws or regulations governing the
accessibility of state internet websites.
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(f)
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The department, in consultation with the entities described in subdivision (c), shall review the information and resources on the internet website to ensure that it is current and updated at reasonable intervals, but no less than once annually.
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(g)
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The internet website and informational materials created and distributed pursuant to this section shall be made available in a manner to ensure that they are accessible by all state residents. The internet website and informational materials shall comply with the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (Chapter 17.5 (commencing with Section 7290) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 17032 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Welfare and Institutions Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>17032.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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No later than January 1, 2028, each county shall prepare and submit to the State Department of Health Care Services a plan to operate programs to provide health care to medically indigent individuals, as necessary to meet additional need due to reduced access to health care coverage.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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Each plan shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Projected increase in caseload.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Projected increase in expenditures.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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Projected investment in workforce and services that would be needed to meet the increased caseload.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
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Assessment of current federal, state, and local funding sources for these programs and the difference between funding available and funding necessary to provide services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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A county may request, and the department shall provide, technical assistance to the requesting county in developing the plan.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.</html:p>
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