​​​​​​​​​​​​Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs

The Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs (LGA) 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, LGA assists in the development and refinement of the State's health care laws. LGA 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. LGA 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. 

DHCS Letters of Support and Opposition:

Archive of previous legislative session's Letters of Support and Opposition

Assembly Bills

• AB 369 (Kamlager) Medi-Cal services: persons experiencing homelessness - Amended version ​June 15, 2021​
• AB 451 (Arambula) Health care facilities: treatment of psychiatric emergency medical conditions - Introduced version February 8, 2021
  
• AB 523 (​Nazarian) Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly - Amended version June 15, 2021
  
• AB 1331 (Irwin) Mental health: Statewide Director of Crisis Services.  Senate Health Committee - Amended version May 24, 2021
• AB 1331 (Irwin) Mental health: Statewide Director of Crisis Services.  Senate Judiciary Committee - Amended version May 24, 2021