Santa Cruz Sentinel

Separate children's health care bill moves ahead

September 21 , 2007

By Tom Honig
Sentinel editor

A health care proposal for children is also pending at the state level, a separate measure that could pass whether or not the Legislature comes to an agreement on overall health care reform.

This measure, known as AB1 and authored by John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, would essentially ensure health insurance for all California children.

The measure was passed in August by both houses of the Legislature, Laird said Thursday, but was held up in parliamentary maneuvering before going to the governor's office for a signature.

Laird said he hopes the children's health care plan will end up as law either in concert with overall health care reform or separately.

"Even if everything fails," said Laird, "we still move kids' [legislation] along"

"We're working in good faith with the governor to enact it," Laird said. He added that his hope is that AB1 would make its way to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by the end of the current legislative special session.