Politics & Government

Assemblymember Mitchell Bills to Encourage HIV Testing Pass First Hurdles

Two bills introduced by Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell (D-Culver City) to facilitate testing for HIV have won key committee votes.

Two bills introduced by Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell (D-Culver City) to facilitate testing for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have won key committee votes on the path to becoming state law.

AB 446 facilitates HIV testing among hard-to-reach subjects by allowing personnel authorized to administer HIV tests to obtain simple written or verbal patient consent and to arrange for patients to confidentially obtain test results via a secure website. The bill also requires clinical facilities that draw blood from patients to screen it for HIV after receiving patient consent.

AB 506 encourages more effective HIV screening and treatment by allowing infants who are under the guardianship of a court to be tested at the request of a treating health professional or social worker.

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The bills were approved in the Judiciary Committee on bipartisan votes without dissent. As a result, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued an official recommendation that everyone between 15 and 65 as well as those younger or older in high-risk groups, be screened for HIV.

“HIV infection continues to be epidemic and is rising among heterosexual women of color,” Mitchell said in an official release. “We have to make it easier for those at highest risk to get tested so that treatment can begin earlier and HIV transmission can be reduced. Hopefully the call of the U.S. Task Force for nearly everyone to get tested will help these bills become law.” 

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