Assembly Appropriations Committee - Suspense File Actions
AB 1439 (Alejo): This bill would require the state's minimum wage to automatically adjust each year by the percentage of inflation as measured by the California Consumer Price Index, beginning January 1, 2013.
AB 1439 was held under submission.
AB 1450 (Allen): This bill would prohibit employers from excluding job applicants due to their employment status. Specifically, the bill would prohibit the employer from excluding an applicant from the application pool at any stage of the hiring process or refuse to offer employment to an individual because of his or her employment status. In addition, the bill would prohibit employers from advertising a job that indicates an applicant's employment status is required for the job, will be used to screen applications, or is considered as part of the application process.
AB 1450 passed the committee with a vote of 12-5.
AB 1461 (Monning): This bill would enact reforms in the individual health insurance market effective January 1, 2014, mirroring provisions in federal law. Specifically, this bill, as it applies to health plans in the individual market:
1) Prohibits health plans from excluding coverage of preexisting conditions.
2) Requires guaranteed renewability of health plans.
3) Prohibits health plans from conditioning the issuance of coverage on any health-status related factor ("guaranteed issue").
4) Specifies certain limited exemptions to guaranteed issue if a health plan lacks the ability to provide sufficient health care services to an individual.
5) Limits the factors to be used for calculation of premiums to age, geography, and family size ("community rating").
6) Limits the sale of health plans to specified open enrollment and special enrollment periods.
7) Specifies details of coverage start dates based on premium payment.
8) Prohibits plans, agents, and brokers from encouraging individuals to refrain from seeking coverage with a plan, or to seek coverage through the Exchange, based on health status and other factors ("anti-steering").
9) Exempts grandfathered plans from most of these provisions.
AB 1461 passed the committee with a vote of 12-5.
AB 1506 (Jeffries): This bill would repeal, as of January 1, 2013, the fire prevention fee on structures located in State Responsibility Areas, which is to be collected starting in the summer of 2012.
AB 1506 was held under submission.
AB 1603 (Feuer): This bill would prohibit a mortgage servicer from obtaining forced-placed insurance unless there is a reasonable basis to believe the borrower has failed to comply with the mortgage loan requirement to maintain hazard, flood, or homeowner's insurance.
The Association of California Insurance Companies ACIC) is primarily concerned with the private right of action and provisions for the award of attorney's fees. The ACIC also seeks clarification of provisions regarding affiliated entities and referral fees, and notes that force-placed insurers file their rates with the Department of Insurance for approval. The Civil Justice Association of California is also opposed.
AB 1603 passed the committee with a vote of 9-7.
AB 1794 (Williams): This bill would make it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in county jail, and a cause for disciplinary action when an employer fails to notify his or her worker's compensation insurance carrier within 20 days of hiring a new employee.
AB 1794 passed the committee with a vote of 12-5.
AB 1800 (Ma): This bill would limit cost-sharing for prescription drugs and modify provisions related to exclusions of medically necessary drugs in health plans.
AB 1800 passed the committee with a vote of 11-6.
AB 1809 (Monning): This bill would direct unclaimed rebates, owed to enrollees by health plans and insurers for failure to spend a certain percentage of premium dollars on medical care, to a newly created account that is to be used for health care outreach and enrollment efforts. It also exempts this redirection of rebates from current law governing unclaimed property, and repeals several obsolete reports.
AB 1809 was held under submission.
AB 2039 (Swanson): This bill would amend the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) by expanding permissible family and medical leave to cover care for an independent adult child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or parent-in-law with a serious health condition.
AB 2039 passed the committee with a vote of 12-5.
AB 2065 (Galgiani): This bill would delete tire repair and changing from the list of services exempt from licensure as an automotive repair dealer under the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
AB 2065 was held under submission.
AB 2072 (Eng): This bill would require the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation to report to the Legislature by December 31, 2013, on whether acupuncturists, whether or not they have obtained qualified medical evaluator status, possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to conduct disability evaluations in the workers' compensation system.
AB 2072 was held under submission.
AB 2084 (Solorio): This bill would expand the list of eligible policyholders who can purchase blanket insurance. Specifically, this bill allows the following groups to purchase the insurance: 1)An emergency medical services company or similar organization; 2)A sports team, camp, or proprietor of a sports team or camp; 3)An employer providing accident insurance to a group of workers, dependents or guests; 4)A carrier or operator of any means of transportation who is providing accident benefits; 5) An entertainment production company; 6) A bank or other financial institution; 7) Any other entities the Insurance Commissioner deems appropriate.
AB 2084 passed the committee with a unanimous vote.
AB 2474 (Chesbro): This bill would recast provisions for setting the fire prevention fee on structures located in State Responsibility Areas, which is to be collected starting in the summer of 2012.
AB 2474 was held under submission.
AB 2493 (Hernandez): This bill would authorize the Administrative Director (AD) of the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) to establish, maintain, administer and publish annually, a list of certified administrative hearing and certified medical examination interpreters determined to meet the minimum standards specified in the Government Code. In addition, the bill authorizes the AD to designate an independent organization to carry out these functions in lieu of having the work performed within the DWC.
AB 2493 passed the committee with a unanimous vote.
AB 2505 (Ma): This bill would require that an automotive repair dealer include the name of the certifying entity on an estimate and invoice when the dealer uses a non-original equipment manufacturer certified aftermarket crash part.
AB 2505 was held under submission.
AB 2589 (Bradford): This bill would require the California Research Bureau (CRB) to conduct a survey comparing key provisions of California's underinsured motorist coverage laws with the laws of other states and requires CRB to report its findings to the Legislature by December 31, 2013.
AB 2589 passed the committee with a vote of 12-5.
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