California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

SB 944 — California Health Benefit Exchange: affordability assistance.

Last action — In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

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

This bill died with 2021-2022 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.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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 federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health benefit plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. Existing state law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) , also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under PPACA. Existing law requires the Exchange, in consultation with stakeholders and the Legislature, to develop options for providing cost-sharing reduction subsidies to reduce cost sharing for low- and middle-income Californians, and requires the Exchange to report the developed options on or before January 1, 2022. Existing law requires the options to include, among other things, options for all Covered California enrollees with income up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level to reduce cost sharing, including copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs. This bill would require the Exchange to implement those options for providing health care affordability assistance. The bill would require the affordability assistance to reduce cost-sharing, including copays, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs, if specified enhanced federal premium subsidies are made available for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years, and to eliminate deductibles for all benefits to the extent feasible. The bill would require the Exchange to adopt standard benefit designs consistent with these specifications. Existing law requires the Exchange to administer a program of health care coverage financial assistance to help low-income and middle-income Californians. Existing law authorizes this program to provide financial assistance to California residents with household incomes at or below 600% of the federal poverty level, and to provide other appropriate subsidies designed to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable for individuals and households. This bill would require the program to provide that financial assistance and other appropriate subsidies if funded through an appropriation.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

  2. Vetoed by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 8. Page 5393.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.

  7. Ordered to third reading.

  8. Read third time and amended. (Ayes 59. Noes 14. Page 6024.)

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 4.) (August 11).

  11. August 3 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.

  12. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  13. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

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

  15. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 8. Page 3836.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  16. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  17. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 3776.) (May 19).

  18. Set for hearing May 19.

  19. April 18 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  20. Set for hearing April 18.

  21. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 2. Page 3203.) (March 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  22. Set for hearing March 23.

  23. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  24. From printer.

  25. Article IV Section 8(a) of the Constitution and Joint Rule 55 dispensed with February 7, 2022, suspending the 30 calendar day requirement.

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

Sponsors

  • Pan · Primary
  • Wood · Cosponsor
  • Susan Rubio · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on · 12 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Pan

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"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

SB 944 Pan Senate Third Reading By Wood

Passed 63 Yea · 11 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 31001
Unaffiliated 32502
Republican 0603
Total 631106
% of votes cast 79%14%0%8%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Cooley — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Holden — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Salas — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Wood — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Ting — Yea
Low — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Levine — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Daly — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Medina — Yea
Gray — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Smith — Nay
Voepel — Nay
Kiley — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Mayes — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Not Voting
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Vince Fong — Nay
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin 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
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
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
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Unfinished Business SB944 Pan et al. Concurrence

Passed 29 Yea · 8 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 12001
Unaffiliated 17501
Republican 0301
Total 29803
% of votes cast 73%20%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Leyva — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Roth — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Pan — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Min — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Newman — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Bates — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Borgeas — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Gonzalez — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting

Official roll call →

SB 944 Pan Senate Third Reading By Wood Amendment Set #1

Passed 59 Yea · 14 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 31100
Unaffiliated 28704
Republican 0603
Total 591407
% of votes cast 74%18%0%9%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Cooley — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Holden — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Salas — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Wood — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Ting — Yea
Low — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Daly — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Medina — Yea
Gray — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Smith — Nay
Voepel — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Cunningham — Nay
Kiley — Nay
Levine — Not Voting
Mathis — Not Voting
Mayes — Not Voting
Bigelow — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Nay
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Vince Fong — Nay
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin 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
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Nay
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
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Not Voting
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gallagher, James Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 12 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5200
Democratic 7000
Republican 0200
Total 12400
% of votes cast 75%25%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Levine — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Holden — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Bigelow — Nay
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Vince Fong — Nay
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay

Official roll call →

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

Passed 13 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10100
Democratic 3000
Republican 0100
Total 13200
% of votes cast 87%13%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Maienschein — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Wood — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Mayes — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Bigelow — Nay
Luz Rivas — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading

Passed 27 Yea · 8 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 16502
Democratic 11002
Republican 0301
Total 27805
% of votes cast 68%20%0%13%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Newman — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Pan — Yea
Roth — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Nielsen — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Bates — Nay
Skinner — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Wilk — Nay
Borgeas — Nay
Hertzberg — Not Voting
Atkins — Yea
Min — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Not Voting
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass

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
Portantino — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Wieckowski — 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
Republican 1000
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bradford — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — 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
Unaffiliated 6100
Democratic 3000
Republican 0100
Total 9200
% of votes cast 82%18%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Gonzalez — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Roth — Yea
Pan — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 944 do?
Existing federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health benefit plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. Existing state law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) , also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under PPACA. Existing law requires the Exchange, in consultation with stakeholders and the Legislature, to develop options for providing cost-sharing reduction subsidies to reduce cost sharing for low- and middle-income Californians, and requires the Exchange to report the developed options on or before January 1, 2022. Existing law requires the options to include, among other things, options for all Covered California enrollees with income up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level to reduce cost sharing, including copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs. This bill would require the Exchange to implement those options for providing health care affordability assistance. The bill would require the affordability assistance to reduce cost-sharing, including copays, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs, if specified enhanced federal premium subsidies are made available for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years, and to eliminate deductibles for all benefits to the extent feasible. The bill would require the Exchange to adopt standard benefit designs consistent with these specifications. Existing law requires the Exchange to administer a program of health care coverage financial assistance to help low-income and middle-income Californians. Existing law authorizes this program to provide financial assistance to California residents with household incomes at or below 600% of the federal poverty level, and to provide other appropriate subsidies designed to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable for individuals and households. This bill would require the program to provide that financial assistance and other appropriate subsidies if funded through an appropriation.
Who sponsors SB 944?
SB 944 is sponsored by Pan, Wood, and Rubio, Susan (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 944?
This bill died with 2021-2022 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 SB 944?
Track SB 944 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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