New Law Requires Publicizing Treatment Limits

Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Tuesday aimed at warning women that some hospitals with which their health plans contract may not provide certain reproductive health services.

The measure by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) was born out of concerns that a growing number of California hospitals are being purchased by Catholic-owned health care groups that deny services including abortion, infertility treatments, tubal ligation, contraception and emergency contraception for rape victims, based on religious grounds.

The bill, AB 525, affects health care plans, disability insurers and Medi-Cal-managed plans that contract with any such hospital. It requires them to inform members in writing when they join that they may be denied some services.

“I think it’s an important first step,” Kuehl said of the new law. “I’m still very disturbed that a great number of Catholic hospitals in the state deny these services to women.”

Kuehl previously tried to force hospitals to make referrals to other facilities for any service they did not provide. The measure died after heavy lobbying by Catholic Healthcare West, the largest California hospital owner.

Healthcare West officials said it was unfair to ask a hospital to participate, even through referrals, in a procedure it objects to on moral grounds. A representative for Healthcare West could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Kuehl said she was compelled to sponsor the legislation after the California Women’s Law Center in Los Angeles brought it to her attention that a growing number of hospitals owned by Catholic Healthcare West were denying certain services to women based on their ethical dictates.

As of January, about one in 10 California hospitals were owned by Catholic Healthcare West, a corporation formed by nine orders of Roman Catholic nuns. The corporation over time has received more than $1.6 billion in government bonds and loans, a sore point with critics.

“I will continue to pursue this issue to guarantee that health care providers cannot deny reproductive health services to women while at the same time accessing public money,” Kuehl said. In other action this week, Gov. Gray Davis signed the following bills into law:

Retired teachers--Retired teachers can return to public school classrooms to provide remedial instruction, and not lose their retirement benefits. AB 94 by Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego).

Summer school--Tuition for summer school courses at the University of California and California State University systems will be capped at the cost of classes in the regular school year. The state will increase aid to universities by $33 million to subsidize the summer school tuition for roughly 14,500 students. AB 2409 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco).

St. Vibiana’s--St. Vibiana’s Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles will be preserved and turned into a performing arts center operated by Cal State L.A. The state is spending $4 million on the redevelopment, overseen by Gilmore Associates. The total cost of the project will be $10 million to $11 million. AB 94 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles).

Water safety--Life jackets will now be required for all people who are being towed behind a vessel, using a personal watercraft or are 11 years of age or younger. AB 2538 by Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer (R-Newport Beach).

Threats--Anyone convicted of threatening a witness to discourage testimony will be banned from possessing a gun for 10 years. AB 1989 by Assemblyman Dick Dickerson (R-Redding).

Open containers--Local governments may ban the possession of open containers of alcohol in public places if they also ban drinking in those areas. The bill was sponsored by the Chico Police Department, which was having trouble enforcing its drinking ban because officers had to witness someone drinking to make an arrest. AB 2187 by Assemblyman Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley).

Firefighters--Bosses with 50 or more employees cannot punish, demote or terminate workers for taking leaves of absences totaling up to 14 days a year to train as volunteer firefighters. There are an estimated 31,000 volunteer firefighters in California, and they spend an increasing number of hours meeting certification requirements, said bill sponsors with the California State Firefighters’ Assn. AB 2535 by Assemblyman Rico Oller (R-San Andreas).

Tombstoning--The name of disgraced former state Sen. Alan Robbins, a Democrat who represented the San Fernando Valley for nearly 20 years, will be stripped from at least 11 laws, including the Areias-Robbins Credit Card Full Disclosure Act of 1986 and the Robbins Courthouse Construction Fund. The practice of naming laws after lawmakers is called “tombstoning.” Robbins was sent to prison for racketeering and tax evasion in 1991. By Assemblyman Lou Papan (D-Millbrae).