Bill Text: CA AB3149 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Promotores and Promotoras Advisory and Oversight Workgroup.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-08 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. [AB3149 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB3149-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Assembly
April 18, 2024 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
March 18, 2024 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 3149
| Introduced by Assembly Members Garcia and Reyes (Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry and Santiago) |
February 16, 2024 |
An act to add Section 18998.55 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to community health workers.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3149, as amended, Garcia.
Promotores and Promotoras Advisory and Oversight Workgroup.
Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the State Department of Health Care Services, among other state departments charged with the administration of health, social, and other human services.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and program 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. Existing law
sets forth a schedule of covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program, which includes community health worker services.
Existing law defines “community health worker” as a liaison, link, or intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the access and cultural competence of service delivery and who is a frontline health worker either trusted by, or who has a close understanding of, the community served. Existing law includes in the definition of community health worker Promotores, Promotores de Salud, Community Health Representatives, navigators, and other nonlicensed health workers with specified qualifications.
This bill would require the department to, department, by
no later than January 1, 2026, 2025,
and until December 31, 2026, to convene the Promotores and Promotoras Advisory and Oversight Workgroup to examine the implementation of the community health worker benefit under provide perspective and guidance to changes in the health and human services delivery system, including, but not limited to, the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the director secretary to appoint no fewer than 9 individuals to
the workgroup who have at least ten years experience working in California as, or with, Promotores.
Promotores or Promotoras. The bill would require the workgroup to be comprised of no less than 51% Promotores, Promotores or Promotoras, as specified, and require the appointees to be from geographically diverse areas of the state. The bill would require the workgroup to advise the department departments under the agency to ensure that community health worker services are available to all eligible
Medi-Cal beneficiaries who want those services, services provided by Promotores or Promotoras are available and accessible to all eligible populations. The bill would also require the workgroup to advise the agency to ensure that community health worker Promotores and Promotoras training and outreach materials are culturally and linguistically appropriate, to make recommendations on outreach efforts, as specified, and to provide input on issues that should be informed by community representatives who have lived experience with using and navigating Promotores or Promotoras services and the Medi-Cal
program.
The bill would also make findings and declarations related to the inclusion of Promotoras.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Promotoras are a predominantly women-led, Latina workforce.
(b) Promotoras are trusted members of traditionally underserved communities who are essential workers that connect their neighbors to information, resources, and advocacy services.
(c) Promotoras are community health workers, with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics describing community health workers as those who promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors and access health services.
(d) Promotoras provide culturally and linguistically relevant education and information to promote health and wellness, reduce access barriers, and navigate individuals and families to health and behavioral health programs, preventive screenings, food and housing security, education, employment training, and more.
(e) Therefore, defining and recognizing Promotoras as a women-led, Latina resource for underrepresented communities to governmental systems is a critical step to ensuring equity in California’s services to diverse communities.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.
Section 18998.55 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:18998.55.
(a) By no later than January 1,(b) The director Secretary shall appoint no fewer than nine individuals with at least 10 years experience working in California as, or with, Promotores, Promotores or Promotoras, as included in the definition of community health worker in subdivision (b) of Section 18998. The workgroup shall be comprised of no less than 51 percent Promotores,
Promotores or Promotoras, including, but not limited to, a representative from a statewide network of Promotores or Promotoras and community health workers, a representative from a community-based organization, a representative from a health clinic or community health center, and a representative from a regional organization. Appointees shall be from geographically diverse areas of the state.
(c) The workgroup shall have all of the following duties:
(1) Advising the department departments under the agency
to ensure that community health worker services are available to all eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who want those services. services provided by Promotores or Promotoras are available and accessible to all eligible populations.
(2) Advising the department agency to ensure that community health worker Promotores and Promotoras
training and outreach materials are culturally and linguistically appropriate.
(3) Making recommendations on outreach efforts so that all eligible Medi-Cal recipients and other target populations are aware of the availability of these services. services provided by Promotores and Promotoras.
(4) Providing input on issues that should be informed by community representatives who have lived experience with using and navigating Promotores or Promotoras services and the Medi-Cal
program.
