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Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs

The Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs facilitates, coordinates, and advocates for the development and enactment of legislation in the interest of public health. As a key player in carrying out the Department of Health Care Services' mission to preserve and improve the health status of all Californians, the office assists in the development and refinement of the State's health care laws. The office performs its role through various functions.

Primary Functions:

  • Develops strategies for introducing and promoting legislation to implement the Department's sound public health principles.
  • Monitors the State's political pulse through interactions with Legislators and their staff, public and private agencies, the health professional community, consumers, constituency groups and educational partners who express interest in public health. The Office uses this information as it advises the California Health and Human Services Agency and Governor on public health policy.
  • Articulates Department and Administration policies to the California Legislature, in coordination with the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Governor.
  • Provides technical assistance to California State legislators and their staff on the Department's various programs through briefings, testimony at informational hearings, individual meetings, periodic newsletters, fact sheets, etc.
  • Builds and fosters strong partnerships for health with California State legislators and their staff.



Secondary Functions:

  • Provides consultative and technical assistance to the Department's programs and the public.
  • Ensures that the Department's bill analyses provide a sound basis for effective legislative advocacy.
  • Ensures that the Department's bill analyses synthesize the policies, activities and resource needs of its numerous programs.
  • Facilitates Department responses to constituent related inquiries received from California State legislators and their staff. 


      Link to 2013 Budget Trailer Bill                                           Link to Reports to the Legislature
      (fact sheets and related documents)                                 (Legislatively mandated reports released) 


      Link to Annual Legislative Summaries
      (Summary of chaptered and vetoed legislation analyzed by DHCS)                                                                                    Back to Top


    Staff

    Carol Gallegos, Deputy Director (carol.gallegos@dhcs.ca.gov)     
    Carolyn Brookins, Acting Assistant Deputy Director (carolyn.brookins@dhcs.ca.gov)    
    Tina Chiginsky, Legislative Liaison (tina.chiginsky@dhcs.ca.gov)  
    Cynthia Robinson, Legislative Coordinator (cynthia.robinson@dhcs.ca.gov)  
    Norma Solorio, Legislative Coordinator (norma.solorio@dhcs.ca.gov
    Cynthia Bowman, Executive Assistant (cynthia.bowman@dhcs.ca.gov
    Tina Johnson, Associate Governmental Program Analyst (tina.johnson@dhcs.ca.gov)
    Leah Kology, Seasonal Clerk (leah.kology@dhcs.ca.gov)


    Staff Assignments



              Carolyn Brookins (CB)

    Health Budget Trailer Bills and Bill Assignments for:

    HP    Health Policy (Director's Office)
    MP    Medical Policy (Director's Office)
                                                                                                                                                                                         Back to Top

    Tina Chiginsky (TC)

    Mental Health and Alcohol & Drug Programs (ADP) Trailer Bills
    Oversight of Mental Health and ADP Related Issues                                                                                            


    Cynthia Robinson (CR) 

    CM   CA-MMIS (Fiscal Intermediary)               CR   Office of Civil Rights
    FP    Office of Family Planning (New)              HC   Office of HIPAA Compliance      
    HT    Health Info Technology                          IT   Information Technology
    LT    Long Term Care                                     MB   Medi-Cal Benefits 
    MC   Medi-Cal Managed Care                        MH   Mental Health Services (New)
    RD   Capitated Rates Development               SF    Safety Net Financing
    SP   Selective Provider Contracting (New)


              Norma Solorio (NS)

    AD   Administration                                        AI   Audits & Investigations
    DM   Drug Medi-Cal (New)                              FR   Fee-for-Service Rates
    LG   Office of Legal Services                          LH   Low Income Health Program
    MD   Medi-Cal Dental                                     ME   Medi-Cal Eligibility
    OP   Office of Medi-Cal Procurement              PA   Office of Public Affairs
    PB   Pharmacy Benefits                                  PE   Provider Enrollment
    RH   Primary & Rural Health                           SC   Systems of Care
    TR   Third Party & Recovery                           UM   Utilization Management

                                                                                                                                                                                         Back to Top

    Contact Us

    1501 Capitol Avenue, Suite 6017
    (916) 440-7500  FAX: (916) 440-5119 or 440-7510
    Mailing address: MS 0006, PO Box 997413, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413

    Last modified on: 3/26/2013 1:51 PM