SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 15

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR FAUSTMAN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 15: HEALTH CARE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROVIDES HEALTH CARE FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTS UNDER MEDI-CAL AND OTHER SPECIFIED HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS, BUT DOES NOT OFFER HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS.  UNDER EXISTING LAW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS THE IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES UNLESS THE DRUGS AND IMPORTERS MEET SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INSTITUTE A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IN CALIFORNIA, AND ALLOW THE STATE AND INDIVIDUALS TO PURCHASE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 15: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DOES NOT PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO ALL OF ITS CITIZENS; AND

WHEREAS, SENATE BILL 36 OF THE 1991-92 REGULAR SESSION PROPOSED INSTITUTING A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA; AND

WHEREAS, MANY OLDER CITIZENS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THEIR HEALTH AND SURVIVAL; AND

WHEREAS, THE PUBLIC FINANCING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE IN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN CURTAILED ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PROFITS OF CALIFORNIA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, WHICH EARN PROFITS THAT ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION; AND

WHEREAS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HAVE MADE EFFORTS TO PREVENT UNITED STATES CITIZENS FROM PURCHASING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM COUNTRIES AT LOWER COSTS THAN THOSE CHARGED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES; AND

WHEREAS, ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CONSIDER MOST PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTS TO BE LEGAL, MANY STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES TAKE STEPS TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF DRUGS FROM CANADA; AND

WHEREAS, A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE WOULD ENABLE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO NEGOTIATE LOWER DRUG PRICES FROM BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC SUPPLIERS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SIMILAR TO THAT PROPOSED IN SENATE BILL 36 OF THE 1991-92 REGULAR SESSION BE INSTITUTED, THAT THIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PROVIDE FOR THE PURCHASE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM CANADA OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY WHERE DRUGS ARE SAFE AND REASONABLY PRICED, AND THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA NEGOTIATE WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUG SUPPLIERS TO OBTAIN THE LOWEST POSSIBLE DRUG PRICES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE  STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 

THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.