Governor's Budget Plan, Election of New Speaker Highlight Early Days of 2016 Session
Legislators returned to Sacramento on January 4 to kick off the 2016 legislative session, resuming floor sessions and daily committee hearings without delay. Because this is the second year of the 2015-16 session, there are a number of bills leftover from 2015, or “2-year bills,” that lawmakers must consider before January 31. Any 2-year bill not passed out of its original house by that date is dead in its current form for the remainder of the session.
In addition to the flurry of legislative activity, Governor Brown released his proposed $170.6 billion ($122.6 billion General Fund) budget on January 7 for the 2016-17 fiscal year. California’s fiscal situation has greatly improved over the past several years, and this year is no exception. Like recent years, there is no budget deficit in 2016. Despite the rosier financial picture, the Governor continues to stress fiscal prudence, placing $2 billion into the state’s Rainy Day Fund and cautioning against too much new, permanent spending. The proposed budget also contains some increased funding for social services that were cut in leaner years, but the 10-percent Medi-Cal provider rate cuts remain intact in the Governor’s proposal.
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It’s a new year, and with it comes a powerful new tool to help you add your voice in support of California nurse practitioners. Visit CANP's online Action Center and get ready to exert your power in practice.
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On the political front, Assemblyman Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) was officially elected on January 11 to succeed Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) as Assembly Speaker. Although Rendon has been formally elected, he will not assume the Speakership post until March 7.
Legislators will begin to introduce bills in earnest ahead of the February 19 bill introduction deadline. CANP's legislative advocacy team will continue to review all introduced and amended bills and forward bills of interest to the CANP Health Policy and Practice Committee for review and prioritization.
Senate Bill 323 (Hernandez, Eggman), which would allow NPs to work without physician supervision, remains in the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee and is eligible for hearing before June 30. CANP continues to actively work to move this bill out of the committee and through the legislative process.
Attendees at CANP's 39th Annual Educational Conference will have the opportunity to learn more about this year's most pressing policy issues during the Legislative Update session, scheduled for Friday, March 18.