Amended  IN  Senate  March 12, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 859

Introduced by Senator Wiener
(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Chiu and Gloria)
(Coauthors: Senators Allen, Galgiani, and Hurtado)
(Coauthor: Senator Hurtado)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Arambula, Bonta, Eggman, Waldron, and Wicks)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonta)

January 16, 2020

An act to add Part 3.5 (commencing with Section 120760) to Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 859, as amended, Wiener. Master Plan plan for HIV, HCV, and STDs.
Existing law provides for programs relating to treatment of persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Under existing law, the Office of AIDS, in the State Department of Public Health, is the lead agency within the state responsible for coordinating state programs, services, and activities relating to HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop and review plans and participate in a program for the prevention and control of venereal disease. Existing law authorizes the department to establish, maintain, and subsidize clinics, dispensaries, and prophylactic stations for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of venereal disease, and authorizes the department to provide medical, advisory, financial, or other assistance to those clinics, dispensaries, and stations, as may be approved by the department.
This bill would require the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the Chief of the Office of Aids to develop and implement a statewide master plan on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), for the purpose of improving the health of people living with, and vulnerable to, those conditions, reducing new transmissions, and ending these epidemics. The bill would require the secretary and chief to create a Master Plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs Stakeholder Advisory Committee and work with that advisory committee and relevant state agencies to identify recommended programs, policies, strategies, and funding necessary to implement the master plan. The bill would also require the Master Plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs Stakeholder Advisory Committee to solicit input and gather information to assist with the development and implementation of the master plan. stakeholder advisory committee and a cabinet-level workgroup to advise them in developing and implementing the master plan. The bill would require the master plan to be developed to accomplish key goals to end the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics in California, including, but not limited to, increasing access to comprehensive HIV, HCV, and STD prevention services, and addressing social determinants of health that impact people living with, and vulnerable to, those conditions. The bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency, in coordination with the Office of AIDS, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by October 1, 2021, and submit updates annually thereafter, until October 1, 2030, 2031, regarding the master plan.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Ending the Epidemic Epidemics Act of 2020.

SEC. 2.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most serious public health issues in California.
(2) According to the State Department of Public Health, California’s STD rates continue to climb and are at the highest levels in 30 years. STD cases are increasing across all regions of the state, with the highest rates among gay and bisexual men, young people 15 to 24, inclusive, years of age, and African Americans. There were 22 stillbirths or neonatal deaths associated with congenital syphilis reported in 2018.
(3) While the state’s annual rate of new HIV diagnoses decreased roughly 2 percent between 2013 and 2017, the gap between whites and communities of color continues to increase. The rate of new HIV diagnoses declined nearly 13 percent among whites, while decreasing only 2 percent among African Americans, and increasing nearly 4 percent among Latinos. The rate of diagnosis among transgender women is among the highest of any group.
(4) The state’s HCV epidemic is also growing rapidly, particularly among young people. Rates of newly reported chronic HCV increased 50 percent among young people 15 to 29, inclusive, years of age, between 2011 and 2015, 2014 and 2016, largely due to increases in injection drug use. Over 400,000 Californians are currently living with HCV and most are unaware of their status.
(5) With the highly effective prevention and treatment tools currently available, states and cities across the country are scaling up efforts to reduce new transmissions and ultimately end these epidemics. California has an opportunity to demonstrate bold leadership by becoming the first state in the nation to develop a comprehensive strategy to simultaneously address HIV, HCV, and STDs.

(5)

(6) HIV, HCV, and STDs share many epidemiologic characteristics, affect similar vulnerable populations, and can be addressed using many of the same prevention and treatment tools. They are also driven by similar social and economic conditions, including stigma and discrimination, poverty, and unstable housing. Integrating our the state’s response to these epidemics is critical to better leverage public health and health care delivery infrastructure and more effectively reach vulnerable individuals and communities.

(6)

(7) Ending the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics in California will require strategic coordination among community stakeholders and all state agencies that serve people living with, and vulnerable to, these conditions, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Social Services, the California Department of Aging, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the State Department of Education.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act that a Master Plan master plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs is developed to improve the health of people living with these conditions, dramatically reduce new transmissions, and ultimately eradicate HIV, HCV, and STDs. end the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics in California.

SEC. 3.

 Part 3.5 (commencing with Section 120760) is added to Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

PART 3.5. Master Plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs in California

120760.
 (a) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Chief of the Office of AIDS, shall lead the development and implementation of a develop and implement a statewide master plan on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The master plan shall serve as the blueprint for reducing new transmissions, improving the health of people living with these conditions, and ending the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics in California.
(b) The secretary, in coordination with the Chief of the Office of AIDS, shall establish a Master Plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which stakeholder advisory committee to advise them in developing and implementing the master plan. The stakeholder advisory committee shall include representation from local government, health care providers, health plans, community-based organizations, academic researchers, manufacturers, advocates, pharmacists, and people living with, and vulnerable to, these conditions. The secretary and chief shall ensure that underserved communities are represented and that culturally competent resources are provided.

(c)The secretary and chief shall, with the assistance of the Master Plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs Stakeholder Advisory Committee, collaborate with other state agencies, including, but not limited to, those identified in subdivision (d), to set goals for ending the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics and identify recommended programs, policies, strategies, and funding for achieving these goals.

(d)The secretary and chief shall work with representatives of state agencies, including, but not limited to, all of the following, to develop and implement the master plan:

(1)State Department of Public Health.

(2)State Department of Health Care Services.

(3)State Department of Social Services.

(4)California Department of Aging.

(5)Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(6)Department of Housing and Community Development.

(7)State Department of Education.

(e)The Master Plan on HIV, HCV, and STDs Stakeholder Advisory Committee, established pursuant to subdivision (b), shall solicit input from stakeholders and gather information on the impact of HIV, HCV, and STDs on Californians to assist with the development and implementation process of the master plan.

(c) The secretary, in coordination with the Chief of the Office of AIDS, shall establish a cabinet-level workgroup to advise them in developing and implementing the master plan. The cabinet-level workgroup shall include representatives of relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) State Department of Public Health.
(2) State Department of Health Care Services.
(3) State Department of Social Services.
(4) California Department of Aging.
(5) Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
(6) Department of Housing and Community Development.
(7) State Department of Education.
(d) The master plan shall be developed and implemented to accomplish key goals to end the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics in California. These goals shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Increase the number of people living with HIV, HCV, and STDs who are aware of their status.
(2) Increase access to comprehensive HIV, HCV, and STD prevention services.
(3) Ensure linkage to and retention in culturally competent, quality health care for everyone living with, and vulnerable to, HIV, HCV, and STDs.
(4) Increase training and capacity building to strengthen and integrate the HIV, HCV, and STD provider workforce.
(5) Address social determinants of health that impact people living with, and vulnerable to, HIV, HCV, and STDs.

(f)

(e) (1) (A) The California Health and Human Services Agency, in coordination with the Office of AIDS, shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by October 1, 2021, that includes baseline data and sets goals for ending the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics. recommended programs, policies, strategies, and funding to accomplish the goals outlined in subdivision (d). The report shall include key data indicators, with 10-year targets, to support the implementation of the master plan. The report shall also include an implementation process describing strategies, accountabilities, deliverables, and timeframes necessary for achieving the master plan’s goals.
(B) The California Health and Human Services Agency, in coordination with the Office of AIDS, shall submit updates to the Governor and the Legislature annually beginning October 1, 2022, to October 1, 2030, 2031, inclusive. The updates shall include, but are not limited to, the status of the implementation processes described in this paragraph and updates on data metrics. indicators.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.