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Bill

A 3926

Relates to enacting the medical civil rights act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phara Souffrant Forrest

Enacts the Medical Civil Rights Act to prohibit healthcare discrimination and set patient rights protections, with enforcement across providers, payers, and agencies.

PRINT NUMBER 3926A
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Bill Summary · A 3926

Summary of Assembly Bill A 3926 – Medical Civil Rights Act

Overview

  • Bill number and title: A 3926, Relates to enacting the medical civil rights act.
  • Sponsor (primary): Phara Souffrant Forrest
  • Introduced: January 30, 2025
  • Status: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Codes (noted twice in the official actions provided)
  • Current stage: With the Codes committee to review and amend before possible floor consideration in the Assembly

Purpose and intent

  • The bill, by its title, aims to enact a new legal framework labeled the “Medical Civil Rights Act.” While the exact text defining scope and protections is not provided here, the title indicates the measure is designed to establish civil rights protections within medical contexts, likely addressing how patients and others interact with medical providers and facilities.

Key provisions (notes)

  • The specific provisions, definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and remedies are not included in the summary provided. As with any civil rights-related bill, potential areas typically covered (in broad terms) may include:
    • Prohibitions against discrimination in medical services based on protected characteristics (e.g., race, color, national origin, disability, gender, etc.)
    • Patient rights and obligations within healthcare settings
    • Roles and duties of healthcare providers, facilities, insurers, and government agencies
    • Enforcement provisions (agency oversight, complaints processes, remedies, penalties)
    • Definitions and effective date
  • The actual text will determine which groups are protected, the standards for compliance, and the mechanisms for enforcement.

Affected parties

  • Patients and individuals seeking medical care or services
  • Healthcare providers and facilities (hospitals, clinics, clinics’ staff)
  • Payers and insurers involved in medical services
  • Government and enforcement agencies responsible for administering civil rights and healthcare standards

Legislative status and timeline

  • Introduced: Jan 30, 2025
  • Committee action: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Codes on Jan 30, 2025
  • The Codes committee typically handles legislation related to civil rights, criminal law, and related matters. If advanced, the bill would proceed to broader floor consideration, potential amendments, and votes.

Next steps and considerations

  • Monitor for the release of the bill’s full text to identify:
    • Specific protected classes and discriminatory practices addressed
    • Definitions, exemptions, and scope of medical services covered
    • Enforcement procedures, remedies, and penalties
    • Effective date and any transitional provisions
    • Funding or implementation strategy
  • Public stakeholders may wish to review for potential impacts on patient access, provider compliance costs, and administrative requirements.

If you’d like, I can update this summary once the full bill text or committee memo becomes available, to provide a more detailed provisions-by-provisions analysis.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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