Requires state plan on HIV, hepatitis C, STDs

Existing law provides for programs relating to treatment of persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Under existing law, the Office of AIDS, in the State Department of Public Health, is the lead agency within the state responsible for coordinating state programs, services, and activities relating to HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop and review plans and participate in a program for the prevention and control of venereal disease. Existing law authorizes the department to establish, maintain, and subsidize clinics, dispensaries, and prophylactic stations for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of venereal disease, and authorizes the department to provide medical, advisory, financial, or other assistance to those clinics, dispensaries, and stations, as may be approved by the department.

This bill would require the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the Chief of the Office of Aids to develop and implement a statewide master plan on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), for the purpose of improving the health of people living with, and vulnerable to, those conditions, reducing new transmissions, and ending these epidemics. The bill would require the secretary and chief to create a stakeholder advisory committee and a cabinet-level workgroup to advise them in developing and implementing the master plan. The bill would require the master plan to be developed to accomplish key goals to end the HIV, HCV, and STD epidemics in California, including, but not limited to, increasing access to comprehensive HIV, HCV, and STD prevention services, and addressing social determinants of health that impact people living with, and vulnerable to, those conditions. The bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency, in coordination with the Office of AIDS, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by October 1, 2021, and submit updates annually thereafter, until October 1, 2031, regarding the master plan.