Appropriations Committee approves dozens of bills, including student health, park acquisitions and water infrastructure changes

The California State Assembly Appropriations Committee met April 9 and advanced more than a dozen bills to the Assembly floor, including items on school-based health reimbursements, state park land acquisitions, agricultural commission law modernization, higher-education loan caps and a clarification that reproductive health care is included in emergency services.

Committee staff opened the hearing saying 111 bills were scheduled for consideration. The committee dispensed with a large consent calendar and then took author presentations on a series of bills that moved out on roll calls or “AB” roll calls during the hearing.

Votes at a glance (selected bills presented and committee action):

- AB 439 (Rogers) — Coastal Act streamlining. Removes a 10-day wait period for certain de minimis amendments and changes a reporting frequency from annually to every five years; committee analysis estimated minor, absorbable costs to the California Coastal Commission. Outcome: approved (out on roll call). Notes: committee record noted some Republican members did not vote; Miss Dixon and Mr. Taub recorded “no” votes in the hearing remarks.

- AB 322 (Ward) — School-based health and mental health services reimbursement. Encourages the California Department of Education to promote programs that allow Local Education Agencies to claim Medicaid reimbursement for school-based health and behavioral health services. Outcome:…