Status Update:
The Governor signed SB 564 late in the evening on Saturday, September 27, 2008. The signing advances health care reform for children and youth in California , but our work is just beginning. SB 564 is intended to provide a mechanism to expand the number of school health centers across the state but funding is still needed. Our future efforts will focus on identifying a funding source for the SB 564 grant program. Click here to read the news release from CSHC and Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas' office regarding the signing of SB 564.

Background:
CSHC sponsored SB 564, authored by Senator Ridley-Thomas (D-26), which creates a grant program for school health centers to be administered by the Public School Health Center Support Program office created when AB 2560 (Ridley-Thomas), became law in 2006.

SB 564, The School Health Centers Expansion Act, would provide resources to communities to support new and existing school health centers.

SB 564:

•  Establishes a school health center grant program to be administered by the Public School Health Center Support Program (Department of Health Services).

•  Outlines eligibility criteria for those seeking funds.

•  Creates grants to support planning; facilities and start-up operations; and/or the expansion of school health center services.

•  Provides resources for technical assistance and evaluation to support the expansion.