LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1147, as amended, Arambula. Medical waste: treatment,
containment, and storage.
Existing law establishes various programs for the prevention of
disease and the promotion of health to be administered by the State
Department of Public Health, including, but not limited to,
administration of the Medical Waste Management Act relating to the
regulation of medical waste, including, but not limited to,
provisions related to the treatment, containment, and storage of
medical waste. Violation of certain orders pursuant to these
provisions is a crime.
This bill would authorize the department to grant a
treatment facility or large generator a variance to these waste
management and treatment requirements approve the use
of an alternative method of containerization or storage of medical
waste, at the request of a treatment facility or large
generator, if the department determines that the
variance provides at least alternative method will
provide the same level of public health protection as provided
under those provisions and would require that 30 days prior to
final approval of an alternative method, the department post on the
department's Internet Web site public notice of the pending approval,
including a method for members of the public to comment on the
proposed alternative method . By changing the
definition of an existing crime, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.