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Bill

AB 225

Health care: facility fees.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mia Bonta

AB 225 establishes protections for personal funds held by patients in California state psychiatric hospitals, passing Assembly unanimously with Senate Health Committee review pending.

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
#healthcare #facilityfees
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Bill Summary · AB 225

Legislative bill overview

AB 225 addresses the management and use of personal funds belonging to patients in California's state mental health hospitals. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously and is currently under Senate review after being referred to the Health Committee. The legislation appears designed to establish or clarify protections and procedures for how state psychiatric facilities handle patient money and financial accounts.

Why is this important

Patients in state psychiatric hospitals are among the most vulnerable populations in the criminal justice and healthcare systems, often lacking family support or ability to advocate for themselves. Clear protections for patient funds prevent exploitation, unauthorized use, and financial abuse while ensuring individuals maintain dignity and autonomy over their own resources. These safeguards directly impact patients' ability to reintegrate into society and maintain financial stability upon discharge.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of permissible uses: Disagreement over what expenses state hospitals can charge against patient funds (treatment costs, facility fees, or only personal items) and how this differs from public healthcare funding
  • Patient consent and autonomy: Tension between protecting vulnerable populations from poor financial decisions versus respecting individual autonomy in spending personal money
  • Administrative burden and costs: Concerns about implementation costs for hospitals to track, secure, and account for patient funds, potentially diverting resources from direct care

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

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