Sprinting to the Finish

The end of the California legislative year is just two weeks away, and the Capitol is in an appropriate frenzy to complete its work by the Sept. 12 deadline.

Back from their shortened summer recess, Democrats are working to move to the Assembly and Senate floors more than 50 health-care-related bills seeking to expand coverage by health maintenance organizations, limit medical decisions to physicians, require HMOs to disclose services so that consumers can comparison shop, increase HMO liability and make health plan mergers subject to pre-approval by state agencies.

Despite Gov. Pete Wilson’s Aug. 4 declaration that he will withhold approval of all such bills until after his recently created HMO task force makes its recommendations in January, some lawmakers say they may test his resolve. They’ll submit their bills for his signature, in hopes he’ll make an exception and approve them, just as he did Wednesday when he signed AB 38, which ends so-called drive-through deliveries by requiring no less than a 48-hour hospital stay following childbirth.

The Democratic majority has also inspired the creation of a number of business coalitions meant to derail what they characterize as “job-killer” bills strangling the state’s economic recovery. The 27 bills--which the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Manufacturers Assn. love to hate--call for the use of arbitration to be curtailed and the return to overtime after an eight-hour workday, and generally increase corporate liability and include many of the HMO bills the governor refuses to consider.

While anti-job killer radio and newspaper ads have been launched in major cities, chamber general counsel Fred Main said the campaign has been scaled back because “a significant number” of the bills have been stalled, amended or killed in committee, or are marked for gubernatorial veto.

One such bill was SB 661 by Sen. Jack O’Connell (D-Santa Barbara), which called for businesses to contain and monitor hazardous materials in water where cleanup is deemed impractical or costly. The bill--high on the lobbyist hit list--was rejected in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

HOT BILLS

* Medical Malpractice Info Online

Bottom Line: Consumers will have access via the Internet to all medical malpractice judgments, arbitration awards and disciplinary actions against California physicians dating to 1991.

Chances: After passing the Assembly 51-25 in June, and clearing the Senate by a 25-10 margin in July, the bill earned the governor’s signature this week.

Next Step: Becomes law Jan. 1.

Details: AB 103 author Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) can be reached at (916) 445-7874.

* Check Cashing Crackdown

Bottom Line: The Justice Department was successful in seeking civil penalties for check-cashing businesses that operate without the required permits. The businesses, which flourish in areas where banks are scarce, must now renew their license annually or face a $1,000 penalty for a first offense; $5,000 for a second infraction; and $5,000, or up to six months in jail, for a third offense.

Chances: After passing the Assembly 76-0 in May, and clearing the Senate by a 38-0 margin in August, the bill was signed by Wilson this week.

Next Step: Becomes law Jan. 1.

Details: AB 711 author Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton) can be reached at (916) 445-7448.