BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1149 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 1149 (Wood) - As Introduced February 27, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Health |Vote:|18 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill allows trade associations that represent specific local health entities to receive federal emergency preparedness and response funding allocated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). AB 1149 Page 2 This bill contains an urgency clause to allow funding to be allocated to the affected entities, upon enactment. FISCAL EFFECT: Negligible state fiscal effect. This bill clarifies eligibility for an existing federal grant. COMMENTS: Purpose. According to the author, due to a recent change in CDPH's interpretation of current law, trade associations that represent specific health facilities are no longer able to receive Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) grant funding administered by the Emergency Preparedness Office at CDPH. This federally funded program supports programs that strengthen preparedness for public health emergencies such as natural disasters, terror attacks, and epidemic illnesses. Since the program began in 1996, trade associations have played a major role in the HPP. The author notes the infrastructure and communication channels within associations make them particularly well suited to tackle the education and outreach challenges inherent to the HPP. This bill will clarify they are eligible recipients of available funding. Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 AB 1149 Page 3