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AB 551

Requires a background investigation of employees, prospective employees, contractors and prospective contractors of certain governmental agencies. (BDR 38-1122)

2025 Regular Session

AB 551 creates a time-limited grant program to expand emergency reproductive health care in EDs and clinics, funding training, pilots, and capacity for abortion and miscarriage car

Chapter 280.
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Bill Summary · AB 551

AB 551 — Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program (RHEPP)

Author: Krell | Introduced: Feb 11, 2025
Status: In committee — Held under submission (Assembly Appropriations as of 05/23/2025)

Purpose / Intent

AB 551 would create the Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program (RHEPP) to expand and improve access to sexual and reproductive health care — including evidence‑based miscarriage and pregnancy‑emergency care, contraception, emergency contraception, and abortion — within emergency departments (EDs) and certain outpatient clinics across California. The bill frames EDs as essential access points in regions with shortages of primary care and OBGYN services and seeks to build clinical capacity through grants and technical assistance.

Key provisions

  • Establishes RHEPP in the Health and Safety Code (new Chapter 6.5, §§127650–127653).
  • Operative only if the Legislature appropriates funds or private funds become available.
  • Designates the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to administer RHEPP.
  • Requires HCAI to collaborate with California‑based organizations (technical assistance providers) that have experience in abortion, contraception, pregnancy emergencies, and pregnancy loss.
  • Grants to be awarded competitively; HCAI must adopt minimum standards, funding schedules, and award procedures.
  • Specifies permissible uses of grant funds (see next section).
  • Sunset clause: program repealed January 1, 2030.

Permissible uses of grant funds (examples listed in the bill)

  • Medically accurate education, clinical guidelines, algorithms, and training tools (including materials addressing misinformation).
  • Support for clinical fellowships to develop internal clinician champions.
  • Mentorship and coaching for physicians, nurses, and administrative leadership to support practice change.
  • Pilot projects to deliver medication abortion in participating EDs.
  • Building internal capacity to integrate medication abortion and manual/aspiration techniques for management of pregnancy loss and abortion.
  • Developing coordinated responses across medical and nursing specialties within and outside participating EDs.

Administration & eligibility

  • Grants administered by HCAI in partnership with selected California organizations that will oversee recruitment, selection, funding administration, and coordination with applicant hospitals/clinics.
  • Eligible entities referenced include emergency departments and outpatient clinics that lack hospital service capacity and are committed to expanding reproductive care.

Who would be affected

  • Hospitals, emergency departments, and qualifying outpatient clinics that apply to and participate in RHEPP.
  • Clinicians (ED physicians, nurses, administrative leadership) receiving training and technical assistance.
  • Patients seeking emergency reproductive health services (miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy management, contraception, emergency contraception, and abortion).
  • State health agency administration (HCAI) and potential technical assistance partner organizations.

Fiscal & procedural notes

  • The bill itself does not appropriate funds; the program is contingent on a future legislative appropriation or private funding.
  • Referred to fiscal committee (fiscal impacts to be determined). As amended, the bill was in Assembly Appropriations and was held under submission (last action 05/23/2025).
  • If funded and implemented, the program would operate through December 31, 2029 (repealed Jan 1, 2030).

Overall effect

AB 551 creates a time‑limited, grant‑based program to build capacity in emergency settings to provide timely, evidence‑based reproductive health care, emphasizing training, technical assistance, and pilot implementation of medication abortion and miscarriage management in EDs and qualifying clinics.

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

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