Governor Approves Bill Allowing Out-of-State Health Care Volunteers
On Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed bill (AB 2699), by Assembly Member Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), that will allow out-of-state health workers to volunteer at no-cost health clinics in California, "California Watch Blog" reports.
The legislation will benefit the not-for-profit group Remote Area Medical, which has organized large-scale events offering no-cost health services for uninsured residents (Jewett, "California Watch Blog," 9/28).
Other Health-Related Bills
On Monday, Schwarzenegger took action on numerous additional bills, including some health care-related measures. The governor signed:
- SB 882, by Sen. Ellen Corbett (D- San Leandro), which makes it illegal to sell or provide electronic cigarettes to individuals younger than age 18 (McGreevy/Dolan, "L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 9/27);
- SB 1408, by the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance and Insurance, which revises and recasts provisions of the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association Act;
- AB 1766, by Assembly Member Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), which will extend the Placer County Integrated Health and Human Services Pilot Program for an additional five years; and
- AB 2104, by Assembly Member Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward), which calls for the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs to approve the State Board of Pharmacy's executive officer.
Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1225, by Assembly Member Hector De La Torre (D- South Gate), which would have required the state Department of Public Health and local public health agencies to identify gaps in their plans to respond to disasters or infectious disease outbreaks (Office of the Governor release, 9/27).
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