Governors Briefs: California Secures Reproductive Health Facilities and Early Action Bills Support Hospitals and More

California Awards Millions to Enhance Security for Reproductive Health Facilities

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom May 8 announced nearly $8 million in grants being awarded to bolster physical and data security at 21 facilities that provide abortion-related care and reproductive health services.

The physical and digital infrastructure security grant program, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services or Cal OES in coordination with the Department of Health Care Access and Information or HCAI, funds security enhancements at health care facilities and practitioner offices that may be the target of violence and vandalism. $7,879,108 will be awarded to 21 facilities that provide abortion-related care and reproductive health services, including Planned Parenthood facilities spanning from Redding to Long Beach and independent practitioners across the state.

“This funding represents a key part of our responsibility to protect Californians from violence,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “By providing security at vulnerable healthcare locations, we can help protect everyone involved, from providers, to patients, and the surrounding community.”

Gov. Newsom Signs Early Action Bills, Including Support for Hospitals

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom, alongside members of the California Legislature, may 15 signed AB 112, creating a new $150 million distressed hospital loan Program to provide zero-interest cash flow loans to nonprofit or public hospitals experiencing extreme financial distress. These loans will help these struggling hospitals remain in operation or assist in the reopening of recently closed hospitals.

The Governor’s Office, California Health and Human Services Agency, and the Department of Health Care Access and Information or HCAI worked closely with the California Health Facilities Financing Authority or CHFFA and the California Legislature to develop this new loan program to assist hospitals in need in as little time as possible.

Key Hospital Program Details

The new distressed hospital loan program will be administered by the HCAI in partnership with the CHFFA.

HCAI will develop eligibility criteria for these loans, including factors like cash on hand, whether it is a small, rural, or critical access hospital, a hospital that serves a disproportionate share of Medi-Cal patients, if closure would significantly impact access to services in the region, etc.

Qualifying hospitals would be required to submit a plan to HCAI and CHFFA detailing how the hospitals will return to financial viability and continue to operate long-term.

Loans disbursed through this new program may also be eligible for forgiveness under certain conditions, to be determined by HCAI.

Additional Early Action Budget Bills Signed

• AB 100 – Amends portions of the 2021 and 2022 Budget Acts, including changes to CalRecycle, California State Preschool Program, Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Inmate Welfare Fund, and Office of Data and Innovation.

• AB 110 – Authorizes the California Department of Education and Department of Social Services to use available federal funds to provide temporary stipends to the California state preschool program and state-subsidized child care program providers. Also extends the waiver of family fees for state-subsidized child care programs and the California state preschool program from July 1, to Sept. 30.

• AB 111 – Provides tax relief to Californians who had student loans or fees discharged as part of financial relief to individuals impacted by economic hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic. Exempts from state income tax Community College fees discharged under the COVID-19 emergency in taxable years 2022 through 2026. Clarifies that higher education emergency grant funds received by students in postsecondary education to support expenses and financial needs of students related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not subject to state income tax in taxable years 2020 through 2027.

• AB 113 – Makes agreed upon changes to AB 2183 (Stone, 2022), which creates additional methods for California farmworkers to elect a collective bargaining representative, specifically as an alternative to polling place election.

Details: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.