California 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

AB 85 — Social determinants of health: screening and outreach.

Last action — Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) on February 01, 2024.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(1) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plans and health insurers to include coverage for screening for various conditions and circumstances, including adverse childhood experiences. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to include coverage for screenings for social determinants of health, as defined. The bill would require providers to use specified tools or protocols when documenting patient responses to questions asked in these screenings. The bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer to provide physicians who provide primary care services with adequate access to community health workers, peer support specialists, lay health workers, community health representatives, or social workers in counties where the health care service plan or health insurer has enrollees or insureds, as specified. The bill would authorize the respective departments to adopt guidance to implement its provisions. Because a violation of the bill's requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make social determinants of health screenings a covered benefit for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and would require the State Department of Health Care Services or a Medi-Cal managed care plan to provide reimbursement for those screenings, as specified. (2) Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information, under the control of the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information, to administer programs relating to areas including health policy and planning. This bill would require the department to convene a working group, with specified membership, to determine standardized methods of data documentation to be used in recording social determinants of health screening responses, to create a standardized model and procedures for connecting patients with community resources, to assess the need for a centralized list of accredited community providers, and to determine gaps in research and data to inform policies on system changes to address social determinants of health. The bill would require the working group to submit a report to the Legislature with specified recommendations related to social determinants of health by July 1, 2026. (3) This bill would make these provisions contingent on specified appropriations or funding from an outside source, as specified. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.

  2. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

  3. Vetoed by Governor.

  4. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

  5. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 65. Noes 1. Page 3556.).

  6. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  7. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 7. Page 2761.).

  8. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  9. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  10. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  11. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  12. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (September 1).

  13. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  14. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  15. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 28).

  16. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  17. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  18. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  19. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 0. Page 1791.)

  20. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  21. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  22. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 18).

  23. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1580.)

  24. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  25. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  26. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  27. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.

  28. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  29. Read first time.

  30. From printer. May be heard in committee January 16.

  31. Introduced. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 8 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

AB 85 Weber Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Passed 65 Yea · 1 Nay · 14 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 47000
Unaffiliated 17003
Republican 11011
Total 651014
% of votes cast 81%1%0%18%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Holden — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Ting — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Low — Yea
Wood — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Essayli — Not Voting
Mathis — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Vince Fong — Not Voting
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay
Dixon, Diane Republican Not Voting
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Not Voting
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Patterson, Joe Republican Not Voting
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB85 Weber By Hurtado

Passed 30 Yea · 7 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10001
Democratic 20101
Republican 0601
Total 30703
% of votes cast 75%18%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Roth — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Newman — Yea
Min — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Wilk — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Nay
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 85 do?
(1) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plans and health insurers to include coverage for screening for various conditions and circumstances, including adverse childhood experiences. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to include coverage for screenings for social determinants of health, as defined. The bill would require providers to use specified tools or protocols when documenting patient responses to questions asked in these screenings. The bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer to provide physicians who provide primary care services with adequate access to community health workers, peer support specialists, lay health workers, community health representatives, or social workers in counties where the health care service plan or health insurer has enrollees or insureds, as specified. The bill would authorize the respective departments to adopt guidance to implement its provisions. Because a violation of the bill's requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make social determinants of health screenings a covered benefit for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and would require the State Department of Health Care Services or a Medi-Cal managed care plan to provide reimbursement for those screenings, as specified. (2) Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information, under the control of the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information, to administer programs relating to areas including health policy and planning. This bill would require the department to convene a working group, with specified membership, to determine standardized methods of data documentation to be used in recording social determinants of health screening responses, to create a standardized model and procedures for connecting patients with community resources, to assess the need for a centralized list of accredited community providers, and to determine gaps in research and data to inform policies on system changes to address social determinants of health. The bill would require the working group to submit a report to the Legislature with specified recommendations related to social determinants of health by July 1, 2026. (3) This bill would make these provisions contingent on specified appropriations or funding from an outside source, as specified. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors AB 85?
AB 85 is sponsored by Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 85?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 85?
Track AB 85 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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