Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, headed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services. Existing law further establishes, within the agency, a number of departments and other entities, including the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits.

This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency, after obtaining specified information from the Employment Development Department, to prepare a report that includes information regarding employers in California that employ 50 or more employees and have any employees who receive benefits from the Medi-Cal program, including, among other things, the annual cost to the Medi-Cal program provided to each identified employer’s employees and their dependents enrolled in the Medi-Cal program, and submit that report to the Legislature no later than July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter. The bill would provide that individually identifiable information about employees or Medi-Cal enrollees contained in the report is exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act, and would authorize the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Employment Development Department to enter into data-sharing agreements, as provided. The bill would also repeal an obsolete reporting requirement.

Under existing law, the information obtained in the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Code is for the exclusive use and information of the Director of Employment Development in the discharge of their duties and is not open to the public. However, existing law permits the use of the information for specified purposes, and allows the director to require reimbursement for direct costs incurred. Existing law provides that a person who knowingly accesses, uses, or discloses this confidential information without authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.