SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 16

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR FAUSTMAN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 16: UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

EXISTING LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS. EXISTING LAW PROVIDES FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO PERSONS WHO HAVE LIMITED INCOMES AND MEET VARIOUS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM AND THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE STATE TO STUDY HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND TO DEVELOP A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA, AS SPECIFIED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 16: RELATING TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES IS THE ONLY DEVELOPED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT HAS NO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; AND

WHEREAS, HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT HEALTH CARE; AND

WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD, PAID FOR BY CALIFORNIANS, MANY OF WHOM CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A SYSTEM FOR THEMSELVES; AND

WHEREAS, CALIFORNIA HAS MILLIONS OF RESIDENTS WITHOUT HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING CHILDREN; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES NEEDS AN EXAMPLE OF AN EXCELLENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT HAS SUCCEEDED IN ONE STATE; 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 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT CALIFORNIA DEVELOP A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE STATE, WITH THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THAT DOES NOT LIMIT CARE BASED ON PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, AND THAT DOES NOT CAUSE PATIENTS TO BE SENT HOME BEFORE THEIR WOUNDS OR CONDITIONS ARE SUFFICIENTLY TREATED AND STABLE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT CALIFORNIA STUDY THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, SUCH AS FRANCE, THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE BEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR 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 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 09 16488

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