The Assembly Health Committee advanced SB 1323 on Tuesday, moving the bill to the Judiciary Committee after hearing testimony on how hospitals and clinics should respond when patients are in immigration custody.
According to the committee summary, the bill would require health care entities to train staff on how to respond to requests from people in custody and would allow patients to notify a family member or loved one of their location. The hearing summary says the committee approved the measure on June 9 and sent it to Judiciary.
Supporters included Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, based on the hearing’s entity extract. Testimony described delayed medical care, restricted family contact and intimidation by immigration agents, though the underlying incidents cited in support were not fully detailed in the summary material.
The committee record available in the source material does not include the full roll-call tally or the final amended bill language. Assemblymember Johnson was recorded as voting no, according to the hearing summary.
SB 1323 is one of several health-related bills the committee took up June 9.
