Legislation to remove mandatory requirements for doctors and other health practitioners to report suspected domestic violence is set to be considered by a California senate committee Aug. 11.
Assembly Bill 2790, proposed by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Berkeley) and co-authored by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), has received both praise and criticism.
The bill removes criminal liability from health care professionals who don’t notify law enforcement when they suspect a patient has been assaulted or abused. Instead, the provider would be required to provide brief counseling and a referral to local or national domestic violence services.
The legislation was suspended in the Senate Appropriations Committee Aug. 1 as lawmakers consider its fiscal impacts. The cost to implement it is still unknown and could require the state to reimburse both local public health departments and agencies hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a legislative analysis….