On June 2, 2023, California's legislature encountered a crucial deadline, marking the day when all bills must have passed their house of origin. This crucial point in the legislative calendar ensures a steady progression of the lawmaking process.
In 2023, the house of origin deadline witnessed unique circumstances. Firstly, the volume of bills that successfully passed their house of origin significantly exceeded previous years. This surge was likely influenced by the legislature's special session, which granted lawmakers additional time to focus on legislation.
Moreover, several high-profile bills managed to pass their house of origin in 2023. These prominent legislations addressed various issues, including increasing the minimum wage, expanding healthcare access, and combating climate change. The passage of these bills demonstrates the legislature's commitment to addressing critical issues affecting California.
A Glance at Medical Bills
Notable bills within the medical sector included AB-765, which criminalizes the unauthorized use of physician titles by unlicensed individuals. AB-1570, another significant bill, proposed permitting certified optometrists to perform certain advanced glaucoma-related procedures, given they fulfill specific requirements. Additionally, AB 1751 would mandate physicians to inform patients about nonpharmacological pain treatments when prescribing opioids- these were all held under submission.
SB 524 is another notable bill that empowers pharmacists to administer medications for various diseases and conditions based on FDA test results they have handled. Lastly, SB-598 proposes waiving the prior authorization requirement for certain healthcare services if the healthcare professional has a commendable track record of prior authorization approvals. However, all these bills were held in committee under submission, except for SB-598, which has been referred to the Committee on Health.
Next Steps in Legislation
Moving forward, the legislative process enters the conference committee stage. Representatives from both the Assembly and the Senate will collaborate to resolve any disparities between the two versions of a bill. The final bill will be forwarded to the governor for approval or veto.
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