[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6696922,"mediaKeyId","5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f","parentId",5019100,"title","Committee advances bill to keep nonprescription syringe access at pharmacies to reduce HIV and hepatitis transmission","audioSeconds",817,"startMs",706000,"endMs",1523000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f&start=706&end=1523","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f/thumbnail_706000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6696922/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-keep-nonprescription-syringe-access-at-pharmacies-to-reduce-HIV-and-hepatitis-transmission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6696922-6fd3eed5a7bc88dee3b418cf980aec3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775555297&Signature=d-~4TfVWXtt-XiDJsSfvUhJ4DizIKA~mGHM1L4vw7m3FkzWYKqVKihZNhegSviJaZS-Og~Q1Qb1BQ3Q~h1xcWVVj6wK1B2wVwwVCi8XAyreg31pTyo0w2e5DbCfw-~iamXTEe1U1JmLBAwinx7hEhkFxzfr6DC-ADj4BFZw33V4J9ajYEeVi2w~wW8S3KxK5ypkhExW8SbjxN8GcYJxXk4qT0Z57fo954CjcNWOphCU-CdjU2wZjyFozVHymGAcWMWRfqFWfoYHrl767ooutPCJf1K3FlodwoM2nZyOG6DN1v1ztBdCKojxC6kVLoaHolBkJj9QuBbHlKlhGq5Qr1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Senate","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","Assemblymember (presenter identified in transcript as Assemblymember Zibur) presented Assembly Bill 309 to remove sunset provisions and preserve statutes that allow pharmacists to sell sterile syringes without a prescription and to clarify that possession of sterile syringes and hypodermic needles for personal use is not a crime.

Supporters framed the bill as a public-health measure to reduce HIV and hepatitis B and C transmission and to support treatment adherence. Michelle Rivas of the California Pharmacists Association said AB 309 \"removes the sunset on a vital public health provision, allowing pharmacists to continue providing non prescription access to syringes.\" She said pharmacists also help with syringe disposal and can refer patients to treatment and testing services.

Laura Thomas of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, a bill cosponsor, told the committee pharmacy access to syringes is essential to statewide prevention strategies and that the evidence shows these programs reduce syringe sharing and disease transmission without increasing drug use.

Witnesses from public-health and advocacy organizations registered support, including Clifton Wilson for the City and County of San Francisco, Glenn Backus for Drug Policy Alliance, Isabella Argueta for the Health Officers Association of California, Planned Parenthood affiliates, county health officials, emergency physician groups and others.

Committee members asked about funding and accessibility. In response, witnesses said syringes sold at pharmacies are typically purchased by individuals and not directly paid for by the state; free syringes are sometimes provided through harm-reduction programs funded by other sources. The panel cited research showing long-term program experience and no increases in drug use tied to pharmacy syringe access.

The committee moved to pass AB 309 and refer it to the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development. The motion was recorded as passed; the roll call shows the bill out of committee on a recorded vote of 8 yes, 2 no, 1 not voting.

Ending: With broad testimony from pharmacy and public-health organizations and no formal opposition recorded in the room, the committee advanced AB 309 to the next committee for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health Committee","oneSentenceSummary","AB 309 would remove sunset dates and preserve pharmacy nonprescription syringe access and a possession clarification to reduce HIV and hepatitis transmission.","taxTitle","California State Senate, Senate, Legislative, California","taxId",77650,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6696912,"Committee advances bill requiring health plans to help consumers find in‑network providers amid industry concerns",2758,2076000,4834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f&start=2076&end=4834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f/thumbnail_2076000.jpg","/articles/6696912/California/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-health-plans-to-help-consumers-find-innetwork-providers-amid-industry-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6696912-3b3203621b90e636b31296b8a465bc25/orig.mp4?Expires=1775555297&Signature=MOJ1fN9O8E3ipyLMZws0slLLIGdUZUNkST9W~c8uXxlOGN7WJCh7fJELZHD8CWQuslH5SLH0dq7sUM-6DS1WVNFyb31aPxZPevYJhh7R2w7YA7E92bZa-UMiF1c25wXRaNu43KcdOY4a0bGFOk2R~zj4pZ~wOnDCkJDN5unr5a7uZUmAjHJoCvLDGjtjxeL7e6~RyzBCuVG2ZF4EIfmrNTIYp-GIh-DUY~XO8wwlm9dV0k57hxurh~y6gigk-SktYLvUegVH6FgzlUxqxwleKEoNgfn-ZXr9VidzdPNUK9mw6X23q4xthgkkSk1OLapAbOQU3dBs0wQy0dFE8LLrAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember (presented in transcript as Assemblymember Pappin) introduced AB 787 to require health plans to provide timely assistance to enrollees who need help finding in-network providers. The bill — as amended in committee — requires plans to acknowledge a request within one business day and to deliver a list of available providers within two business days for urgent requests and within five business days for nonurgent requests; patients would be able to designate urgency under the amendment adopted in committee.

Kate Van Dines of Health Access California testified in support and said provider directories remain \"notoriously inaccurate,\" citing cases where consumers called dozens of listed providers only to find retired clinicians, disconnected numbers, or clinicians no longer accepting the insurance. A licensed marriage and family therapist described mental‑health patients who faced barriers and, in one example, a student who attempted suicide after failing to find an in‑network therapist.

Opposition witnesses representing health-plan and dental-plan industries said the bill created significant administrative burdens and that directories are only as accurate as information provided by participating providers. Nick Luisos of the California Association of Health Plans said his members share the goal of accurate directories but warned some bill provisions would impose new administrative costs; Matt Bach of the California Association of Dental Plans said adding dental to the bill raised concerns about cost and feasibility in a competitive, low-premium dental market.

Committee members and opponents debated enforcement and practicality. The bill author and committee negotiated timing amendments and language to allow plans some flexibility and to include disclaimers noting data currency. The committee moved to pass AB 787 as amended and refer it to the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Durazo moved the motion. The roll-call vote recorded the bill out of committee with 8 yes, 2 no, 0 abstentions according to the transcript.

Ending: Committee members urged continued negotiations between plans, providers and consumer advocates to refine operational details before the bill proceeds to later stages; the bill advanced to Appropriations for fiscal review.","AB 787 would require health plans to help enrollees find in‑network providers and set timelines for plan responses; supporters said directories are frequently inaccurate and harm patients, while plan representatives warned the measure is administratively burdensome.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6696927,"California senators hear bill to restore diacritical marks on birth, death and marriage records",622,89000,711000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f&start=89&end=711","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f/thumbnail_89000.jpg","/articles/6696927/California/California-senators-hear-bill-to-restore-diacritical-marks-on-birth-death-and-marriage-records","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6696927-72d38f1f9beae3123ce08cf33053914c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775555297&Signature=KLKuuA57rI9xYSO5FPuvIVgmkLf3KncGJDbYhITArHp6cyo5gNq73Qg9uROe4RbUiaMbznKI4g3pnrVhM7a~UPmO6RnpoIuvTAN4ZGZjek2OmYDmMxHmC2yG2uNgHI3pmrdwxc8I733L-~jQLGiSyanzQKHQxPjoWIokQNcYIjhzq3I-X3w4YLZpXxfSBQI0vSVMYR7u3kxA75aROXKViReStLpL6el-yAisTADKd67REhHCDCpB00fItqw~dMXOvqh39yMXLHej8HMc9maPPSMyQRmxAWqTJun~lRNNXqpQlHba0FctapTqXPo9QV8u8cCjLTy8XqvjTa0T6jr-fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco introduced Assembly Bill 64, which would allow diacritical marks on vital records such as birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses so names with accents and other marks can be recorded accurately.

Pacheco told the Senate Committee on Health she had introduced the bill multiple times and had worked with county clerks on implementation amendments. \"This is my third introduction of the bill which reflects my sincere commitment to this policy,\" she said. She told the committee she would make the amendments that addressed county clerks' implementation concerns.

Witnesses who testified in support described personal impacts from current rules. Martin Devlin said his son’s Irish name could not be spelled with its fada on his birth certificate and that the mismatch forced the family to enroll the child in school using the incorrect spelling. \"I could not describe my absolute shock when we were informed that our chosen name was not allowed to be spelled correctly on his birth certificate,\" Devlin said.

Jose Escobedo, who has been advocating for this change since age 12, told senators the ability to record accent marks is a question of dignity and cultural recognition. \"These accent marks represent my family, my culture, and my traditions, and ultimately they represent me,\" he said.

Supporters including UnidosUS and family members from the public comment period offered brief statements of support during the committee hearing.

The committee later moved to pass AB 64 as amended and refer it to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The motion was moved by Senator Durazo and the roll call recorded the bill out of the committee by a recorded vote of 10 to 0.

Background and context: Pacheco said California allowed diacritical marks on vital records until 1986, when the practice ended; the bill would restore the option for individuals to include those marks. The author said other states already permit diacritical marks on state records and urged California to follow suit.

The committee did not take a final floor vote in this hearing; the measure was referred to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

Ending: With the committee vote recorded, the bill advanced to the appropriations stage; committee staff and the author indicated they would continue to work with county clerks on the technical amendments for implementation.","Assembly Bill 64 would allow inclusion of diacritical marks on vital records so residents can have names spelled correctly; author and two witnesses testified in support and the committee passed the bill to appropriations by recorded vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6696917,"Senate panel advances AB 543 to let street-medicine teams order services and enroll unhoused patients in Medi‑Cal",795,1417000,2212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f&start=1417&end=2212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f/thumbnail_1417000.jpg","/articles/6696917/California/Senate-panel-advances-AB-543-to-let-street-medicine-teams-order-services-and-enroll-unhoused-patients-in-MediCal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6696917-278ed4da775dc13199c0a48769693b93/orig.mp4?Expires=1775555297&Signature=ioUx3XgPkUmDIQ7SbzOh0MWUbCeZ8md-TobLTk5IzYHT8kNY3rmoONig84KH8fi2eJC48wqLf4mDP4bHT6Wh1rZfqEMkmZU2Sy39y7bFgIsZG4EcEzTsyz0pwazGl8dW0JdQ1LMe0hqfYd4X-fgqaC8pd2OqaV4haSpyf-ChMIDdd5g-DR5cg4O4~j5aqxDTHAJxOXb~o4e5CUrDlWUOV8NzNW5g3YwoQJSquPl2zZTYaYhJ9I8ukYNDdQhCLqt9d6dfzxnD-X58Bv8sOnIwuhULiV5gR~kgvCvoqHeasHqDmrS0Ium5MapgAWcZGycDyZx9lQPwVUpxkhGaraMdQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember (presented as Assemblymember Gonzales in the transcript) introduced AB 543 to establish presumptive eligibility for people experiencing homelessness, allow street-medicine providers to directly order medically necessary services and equipment, and add a homelessness identifier in Medi‑Cal and public-assistance systems to improve coordination of care.

Dr. Jose Luis Gonzalez, vice president and medical director at Health Care in Action (HIA), and Brett Feldman, director of street medicine at the University of Southern California, described clinical situations where strict network assignment and primary-care provider (PCP) constraints delayed care for unhoused patients. Dr. Gonzalez said HIA operates 22 street-medicine teams across six counties and treats patients where they live — on sidewalks, in tents, vehicles and encampments. He described a patient with chronic lower-extremity wounds whose care was delayed because the patient could not reach a PCP for a specialty referral.

Feldman gave additional examples, including a patient who could not obtain an x‑ray and a referral because the street-medicine clinician was not the assigned PCP and therefore could not order diagnostic testing or specialty care. He said those delays led to worse outcomes and avoidable hospitalizations.

The bill’s supporters included a broad coalition from 35 counties (the author cited 175 organizations supporting the measure). Several county, hospital and public-health organizations recorded their support in the hearing.

The committee moved to pass AB 543 as amended and refer it to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Grama moved the motion. The recorded vote count shown in the transcript was 10 to 0 and the bill was referred to appropriations.

Ending: Proponents said the bill will reduce barriers to medically necessary care for unhoused Californians by enabling street-medicine clinicians to act without waiting for PCP referrals; the measure advances to appropriations for further consideration.","AB 543 would create presumptive eligibility and allow street-medicine providers to order medically necessary services and equipment for unhoused Medi‑Cal enrollees; supporters described cases where network rules blocked timely care. Committee approved the bill and sent it to appropriations.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6696908,"Senate health committee backs bill to codify legal right to wear health masks in public",743,4505000,5248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f&start=4505&end=5248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019100-3f227a5c038b067edd1d07882a3b102f/thumbnail_4505000.jpg","/articles/6696908/California/Senate-health-committee-backs-bill-to-codify-legal-right-to-wear-health-masks-in-public","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6696908-54ab63ac361badcabe001a8510c2350a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775555297&Signature=FT5SbgHf5me~Ln0eYsJk1jHRmsmGDwKTf8eX9FQfAkbyI5viGZRNLF4nwK3jZGqTokggOkDuSiRUXzzJeBAPTwaEkoZwORwu7O-keJkCS9lk7-tH0FfxIfpiSkb7lbR0uhrX9RmGuiQqnoYHY36CgNqdbmSWAO2Pafl8pp~6oHhfoH0eFFiGJrin1nFsxKyrCZAeNFA8a2LL~p5t9bm5qlD3gC6MczTcRiBeXb24gTwZmn7AfSOSOSGmD3f91k59UmVG~-1e5CHxosUc8cIjfKy80c7uF3IHcwOA9Gkb6wvAISGtzYsnhu7AD4G0Pq3QNUe--v1PtFXxkYmWKluhPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An assemblymember presented AB 1326 to the Senate Committee on Health to establish a legal right for individuals to wear masks in public spaces for health protection, including protection from airborne disease and poor air quality.

Dr. Cameron Kaiser, deputy health officer for Solano County appearing for the Health Officers Association of California, testified in strong support and said that many Californians wear masks to protect themselves or family members with deficient immune systems, to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke and to stay healthy while working in frontline jobs. \"This bill doesn't change public health rules or impose any order or requirement other than to respect our needs,\" he said.

Committee members asked about mask types and the author said she would continue to work with Senate Judiciary to clarify protections for different health mask types (for example, surgical masks and N95 respirators versus cloth face coverings). Senator Weber Pearson and Senator Weiner voiced support and urged clarification on effective mask types; Senator Rubio also said he supported the right while urging further work on the bill’s scope and language.

The committee moved to pass the bill as presented and refer it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary; Senator Wiener moved the motion. The roll-call vote recorded the bill out of the committee with a vote count recorded in the transcript as 8 yes, 2 no, 0 abstentions.

Ending: Supporters said AB 1326 would protect vulnerable Californians who rely on masks as a preventive health measure; the author and committee members said they will continue to refine the bill’s language on protected mask types in subsequent committees.","AB 1326 would affirm an individual's legal right to wear masks in public spaces to protect health and reduce exposure to airborne disease and poor air quality; public‑health witnesses and several senators supported the measure and the committee passed the bill to judiciary/appropriations as recorded.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill to keep nonprescription syringe access at pharmacies to reduce HIV and hepatitis transmission

Committee advances bill requiring health plans to help consumers find in‑network providers amid industry concerns

California senators hear bill to restore diacritical marks on birth, death and marriage records

Senate panel advances AB 543 to let street-medicine teams order services and enroll unhoused patients in Medi‑Cal

Senate health committee backs bill to codify legal right to wear health masks in public