Sacramento, CA – Today Assemblyman Marc Steinorth (R-Rancho Cucamonga) passed two bills related to consumer protection and transparency out of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and Assembly Health Committee, respectively. AB 1253, sponsored by the State Board of Optometry, provides minimum requirements for retired optometrists to provide free services at events such as public health fairs. AB 294, sponsored by the Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations, requires that the state’s Health and Human Services Agency must publicly disclose when it has been approved for a waiver from a federal law when implementing a federal program.
When retired optometrists provide volunteer service, they play an important role in broadening health access to all Californians. However, it is in the public’s interest to ensure that those volunteering remain up to date on current standards and practices within the field of optometry. Specifically, AB 1253 allows retired optometrists to qualify for a volunteer designation if they apply for such status within 5 years of requirement and complete 50 hours of education if it has been longer than 3 years since retirement.
“We are all so grateful to many retired individuals who are willing to give back to their community by providing free volunteer service,” said Steinorth. “This measure is strongly supported by the California Optometry Association because there is recognition that they can better serve the public when their education is current.”
California’s State Plans for Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, CalWORKSs, Child Care, CalFresh (food stamps) receive federal funding and are required to meet specific federal requirements. If California receives a federal waiver from any of these requirements, AB 294 requires this information to be made public so that individuals and groups can gain better knowledge of these programs and improve service delivery to Californians.
Assemblyman Steinorth represents the 40th Assembly District which includes Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Highland, Loma Linda, and Redlands.
