California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 9 D cosponsors

SB 56 — Medi-Cal: eligibility.

Last action — From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” 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.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

Summary

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services (department) , 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. The federal Medicaid program provisions prohibit payment to a state for medical assistance furnished to an alien who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Existing law requires individuals under 19 years of age enrolled in restricted-scope Medi-Cal at the time the Director of Health Care Services makes a determination that systems have been programmed for implementation of these provisions to be enrolled in the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if otherwise eligible, and extends eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals under 25 years of age, and who are otherwise eligible for those benefits but for their immigration status. Existing law makes the effective date of enrollment for those individuals the same day that systems are operational to begin processing new applications pursuant to the director's determination, and requires the department to maximize federal financial participation for purposes of implementing the requirements. To the extent that federal financial participation is unavailable, existing law requires the department to implement those provisions using state funds appropriated for that purpose. Existing law provides that Medi-Cal benefits for individuals who are 65 years of age or older, and who do not have satisfactory immigration statuses or are unable to establish satisfactory immigration statuses, will be prioritized in the Budget Act for the upcoming fiscal year if the Department of Finance projects a positive ending balance in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties for the upcoming fiscal year and each of the ensuing 3 fiscal years that exceeds the cost of providing those individuals with full-scope Medi-Cal benefits. This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, and effective July 1, 2022, extend eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who are 60 years of age or older, and who are otherwise eligible for those benefits but for their immigration status. The bill would delete provisions delaying implementation until the director makes the determination described above. The bill would require the department to seek federal approvals to obtain federal financial participation to implement these requirements, and would require that state-only funds be used for those benefits if federal financial participation is unavailable. Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes the department, in implementing the above provisions, to contract, as necessary, on a bid or nonbid basis, and establishes an accelerated process for issuing contracts pursuant to the above provisions. Existing law authorizes those contracts to be on a noncompetitive bid basis and exempt from specified laws, policies, procedures, and regulations. This bill would make the above provision inapplicable to any contracts newly entered into, or renewed, on or after January 1, 2022. The bill would make various conforming or technical changes to related provisions. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. Coauthors revised.

  3. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  4. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  5. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  6. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 7. Page 1388.) Ordered to the Assembly.

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

  8. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 1181.) (May 20).

  9. Set for hearing May 20.

  10. March 22 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  11. Set for hearing March 22.

  12. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 2. Page 456.) (March 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  13. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  14. Set for hearing March 10.

  15. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  16. From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 7.

  17. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 108 not signed on · 5 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (13)

Not signed on (108)

108 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 108 →

"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

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 11 Yea · 3 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9201
Democratic 2000
Republican 0100
Total 11301
% of votes cast 73%20%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Santiago — Yea
Burke — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Wood — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Waldron — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Mayes — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB56 Durazo et al.

Passed 29 Yea · 7 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 16304
Democratic 13000
Republican 0400
Total 29704
% of votes cast 73%18%0%10%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Dodd — Yea
Roth — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Newman — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Pan — Yea
Borgeas — Nay
Bates — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Glazer — Not Voting
Min — Not Voting
Nielsen — Not Voting
Melendez — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended

Passed 5 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4100
Democratic 1000
Republican 0100
Total 5200
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Nay
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 1000
Unaffiliated 5000
Republican 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Portantino — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 9 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 3000
Unaffiliated 6100
Republican 0100
Total 9200
% of votes cast 82%18%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Roth — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Pan — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

immigration healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 56 do?
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services (department) , 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. The federal Medicaid program provisions prohibit payment to a state for medical assistance furnished to an alien who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Existing law requires individuals under 19 years of age enrolled in restricted-scope Medi-Cal at the time the Director of Health Care Services makes a determination that systems have been programmed for implementation of these provisions to be enrolled in the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if otherwise eligible, and extends eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals under 25 years of age, and who are otherwise eligible for those benefits but for their immigration status. Existing law makes the effective date of enrollment for those individuals the same day that systems are operational to begin processing new applications pursuant to the director's determination, and requires the department to maximize federal financial participation for purposes of implementing the requirements. To the extent that federal financial participation is unavailable, existing law requires the department to implement those provisions using state funds appropriated for that purpose. Existing law provides that Medi-Cal benefits for individuals who are 65 years of age or older, and who do not have satisfactory immigration statuses or are unable to establish satisfactory immigration statuses, will be prioritized in the Budget Act for the upcoming fiscal year if the Department of Finance projects a positive ending balance in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties for the upcoming fiscal year and each of the ensuing 3 fiscal years that exceeds the cost of providing those individuals with full-scope Medi-Cal benefits. This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, and effective July 1, 2022, extend eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who are 60 years of age or older, and who are otherwise eligible for those benefits but for their immigration status. The bill would delete provisions delaying implementation until the director makes the determination described above. The bill would require the department to seek federal approvals to obtain federal financial participation to implement these requirements, and would require that state-only funds be used for those benefits if federal financial participation is unavailable. Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes the department, in implementing the above provisions, to contract, as necessary, on a bid or nonbid basis, and establishes an accelerated process for issuing contracts pursuant to the above provisions. Existing law authorizes those contracts to be on a noncompetitive bid basis and exempt from specified laws, policies, procedures, and regulations. This bill would make the above provision inapplicable to any contracts newly entered into, or renewed, on or after January 1, 2022. The bill would make various conforming or technical changes to related provisions. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Who sponsors SB 56?
SB 56 is sponsored by Durazo, Maria Elena (Democratic), Arambula, Joaquin (Democratic), Becker, Josh (Democratic), Caballero, Anna M. (Democratic), Eggman, Hertzberg, Hueso, Wiener, Scott D. (Democratic), Rivas, Robert (Democratic), Santiago, Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. (Democratic), Nazarian, Rubio, Susan (Democratic), and Gonzalez, Lena A. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 56?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” 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 SB 56?
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