BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS
Senator Martha M. Escutia, Chair
BILL NO: SB 1830
S
AUTHOR: Brulte
B
AMENDED: As Introduced
HEARING DATE: April 5, 2000
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FISCAL: Appropriations
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CONSULTANT:
0
Umino / ak
SUBJECT
Maternity Care
SUMMARY
This bill expands maternity care to specified eligible
persons over the age of 18.
ABSTRACT
Existing law:
1.Provides maternity care to an unmarried pregnant person
under the age of 18 in certain circumstances.
2.Relieves the parents of a person under 18 years of age
from financial responsibility for various services
provided by a licensed maternity home.
3.Authorizes the State Department of Social Services to
require a county to administer the maternity care for
minors program, including contracting with maternity
homes for reasonable costs to provide the services.
This bill:
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1.Specifies eligibility for maternity care benefits under
this bill to be any person who is (a) unmarried; (b)
addicted to drugs or alcohol; or (c) a victim of actual
or threatened domestic violence who lives separately from
the alleged assailant; unless a person is eligible for
benefits through other specified services (e.g., foster
care).
2.Requires the same level of appropriate services as
provided by existing law for maternity care for minors.
3.Requires the state to reimburse licensed, nonprofit
maternity homes for costs of care and services for
eligible individuals, using any funds appropriated for
this purpose.
4.Subjects maternity home providers to the same
requirements and rights specified in existing law for
maternity care for minors.
5.Allows the state to require a county to administer the
provisions of this bill, which include contracting with
maternity homes for reasonable costs to provide the
services.
6.Requires any child over 18 years of age, who remains
eligible for foster care benefits under the federal Aid
to Family with Dependent Children (AFDC), to be eligible
to receive benefits under this chapter.
7.Appropriates $3,000,000 to the existing Maternity Care
for Minors Program and $3,000,000 for those persons who
are over the age of 18, as specified in this bill.
FISCAL IMPACT
Six million dollars ($6,000,000) from the General Fund for
implementation of maternity care programs.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The California Department of Social Services (DSS) reports:
1.In the 1970s, the Legislature created a $2.5 million
maternity care program for persons under the age of 21 to
provide a pro-life alternative to Medi-Cal benefits for
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abortion.
2.Funding for the maternity care program, which has slowly
declined in use over the years, dropped dramatically to
$600,000 last year. During this time, eligibility for
maternity care services changed from under the age of 21
to under the age of 18, possibly because persons 18 years
of age and over are considered adults.
3.The reason for the decline in funding for the maternity
care program may be because other programs available to
pregnant minors provided greater funding levels. For
example, the maternity care service program provides only
about $2,600/month, while residential treatment programs
under foster care provide approximately $5,500/month.
Furthermore, these minors are also eligible for Medi-Cal
benefits.
The author reports that this bill in one of many bills
introduced this year to expand the social safety net.
Supporters
1.The California Teachers Association believes that quality
health care is a basic right for all Americans and
supports health care proposals that incorporate universal
access to comprehensive coverage.
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2.The California Child, Youth and Family Coalition reports
that this bill would help avoid the undesirable outcome
of abandoning young people when they are most in need.
Comments
The Committee may wish to ask the author the following
questions:
1.This bill provides open eligibility to maternity care
services for any person who is unmarried, addicted to
drugs or alcohol, or a victim domestic violence. Should
this program include income eligibility criteria?
2.According to DSS, the client base (under the age of 18)
for the existing maternity care program for minors is
declining; what is the estimated client base for
expanding the program to those over the age of 18?
3.For persons with drug or alcohol addiction and victims of
domestic violence, ancillary services might be required.
Could licensed maternity care facilities provide (a) the
necessary ancillary services needed to avoid pregnancy
complications from drugs and alcohol and (b) the
necessary security, protection, and anonymity required by
victims of violence?
POSITIONS
Support: California Child, Youth and Family Coalition
California Teachers Association
Oppose: None on file
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