California Bill Would Require Review of HIV Reporting System, Institute Emergency System if Federal Standards Are Not Met
A bill (AB 2994) introduced on Monday by Assembly member Roderick Wright (D) would require the California Department of Health Services to perform an audit of the state's HIV reporting system and would authorize the department to issue emergency regulations to "bring California into compliance" if the system is found not to comply with federal rules. A 1996 amendment to the Ryan White CARE Act requires all states to have an HIV reporting system that meets standards set forth by the Institute of Medicine and HHS. If a state does not meet those standards, it could lose Ryan White funding provided for HIV/AIDS treatment, social services, housing and prevention. Wright's bill requires the health department to evaluate California's non-name HIV reporting system -- which was approved and funded by the Legislature in fiscal year 2000-2001 but has not yet been implemented -- and prepare a report on the status of that system. The report must be submitted to the Assembly no later than June 30, 2003. If the report finds that California's system "has not or will not meet federal standards," the bill authorizes the department to issue emergency regulations to bring the system into compliance with the standards set forth by the Ryan White CARE Act by Jan. 1, 2004 (AB 2994 text, 3/7).
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