AB 1895 (Weber, D-La Mesa)
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Vetoed by the governor on Sept. 29.
AB 1895 would have required general acute care hospitals whose perinatal unit expects challenges in the next six months that may result in a reduction or loss of perinatal services to report specified information to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). This information would have included, but would not have been limited to, the number of medical staff and employees working in the perinatal unit and the number of deliveries per month over the past 12 months, the factors that have caused challenges in the perinatal unit and what is needed for the perinatal unit to remain open, and whether state intervention is needed. The information provided by hospitals to HCAI would have been forwarded to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). This information would have been kept confidential to the extent applicable by law. The bill also would have required HCAI, CDPH, and DHCS to assess the potential impact to the community if the perinatal unit closes, as well as develop recommendations for resolving the perinatal unit’s challenges. If the hospital closes its perinatal unit, the hospital would have still been required to provide public notice of the closure as required by Health and Safety Code Section 1255.25. Additionally, hospitals would have been required to post the results of the state’s community impact assessment on its internet website 90 days in advance of the proposed closure. The bill also would have required hospitals to permit public comment on the closure for 60 days after the notice is given and hold at least one public hearing.
AB 2300 (Wilson, D-Suisun City)
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Signed by the governor on Sept. 25.
AB 2300 phases out the manufacture, sale, or distribution of IV bags and IV tubing made with intentionally added Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Beginning Jan. 1, 2030, the manufacture, sale, or distribution of IV bags with intentionally added DEHP is prohibited. Manufacturers can extend this deadline to 2032 if they meet public disclosure criteria. Beginning Jan. 1, 2035, this prohibition is extended to all IV tubing. Certain blood kits, bags, and tubing are exempted from this prohibition.
SB 1300 (Cortese, D-Campbell)
Neutral
Signed by the governor on Sept. 28.
SB 1300 requires hospitals, 120 days prior to closing either supplemental inpatient psychiatric or maternity services, to provide public notice with specified information, including a justification for the health facility’s decision to eliminate the services and demographic information about the patients that received those services in the past five years. Within 60 days of public notice, the bill requires hospitals to hold a public hearing within 25 miles of the facility and that is accessible to the public remotely. The county board of supervisors must be invited to provide testimony on the impacts of the elimination of services to the county and community health systems.
SB 1439 (Ashby, D-Sacramento)
Support
Failed to pass the Housing and Community Development Committee on June 26.
SB 1439 would have expanded the legal definition of “exempt surplus land” to include specified sites within the city of Sacramento that are intended for the development of health facilities.