AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 18, 2022

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 25, 2022

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

94

CHAPTER 265

Statutes of 2022

[ Approved by Governor September 9, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 9, 2022. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula

February 17, 2022

An act to add and repeal Section 123576 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law finds and declares that prenatal care, delivery service, postpartum care, and neonatal and infant care are essential services necessary to assure maternal and infant health. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop and maintain a statewide community-based comprehensive perinatal services program.

This bill would, subject to an appropriation of funds by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for this purpose, require the department, in consultation with subject matter experts, to review available literature on adverse effects of extreme heat on perinatal health, develop guidance for safe conditions and health considerations for pregnant individuals and infant children, and provide guidance to the Legislature by submitting a report that includes legislative or policy recommendations on best practices for connecting perinatal patients with the appropriate health and well-being information relating to extreme heat.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Climate change is expected to cause more frequent and intense climate-related environmental disasters, including, but not limited to, heat waves, wildfires, and extreme weather events, such as droughts, hurricanes, and floods.

(b) Climate change is associated with many short- and long-term health effects across the human lifespan, ranging from dehydration to heatstroke, including, but not limited to, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, mental health complications, cardiovascular disease, and even death.

(c) Pregnant individuals and infant children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat with increased risks of preterm birth, low birthweight, stillbirth, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, birth defects, and neonatal mortality during a heat wave.

(d) The state should consider future policy and funding decisions to address the needs of the increasing impact of extreme heat on pregnant individuals and infant children.

SEC. 2.

Section 123576 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

123576.

(a) Subject to an appropriation of funds by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for this purpose, the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with subject matter experts, shall do all of the following:

(1) Review available literature on adverse effects of extreme heat on perinatal health.

(2) Develop guidance for safe conditions and healthy considerations for pregnant individuals and infant children who may be exposed to extreme heat, and for pregnant individuals, during both the gestational and postpartum periods. The department shall post this guidance on its internet website and make it accessible to medical and community-based health care organizations.

(3) Provide guidance and supporting information to the Legislature by submitting a report that includes legislative or policy recommendations on best practices for connecting perinatal patients with the appropriate health and well-being information relating to extreme heat.

(b) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2027.