What SB 1284 does
An act to add Section 230.9 to the Labor Code, to amend Section 1095 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, and to add Section 11024.5 to, and to repeal Section 11026.5 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to medical benefits.
Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, headed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services. Existing law further establishes, within the agency, a number of departments and other entities, including the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits.
This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, after obtaining specified information from the Employment Development Department (EDD), to prepare a report that includes information regarding employers in California that employ 100 or more employees and have any employees who receive benefits from the Medi-Cal program, including, among other things, the estimated total annual cost of Medi-Cal services provided to employees, and the dependents of those employees, of each employer, and submit that report to the Legislature no later than September 1, 2027, and annually thereafter. The bill would provide that individually identifiable information about employees or Medi-Cal enrollees contained in the report is exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act, and would authorize the department and EDD to enter into data-sharing agreements, as provided. The bill would also repeal an obsolete reporting requirement.
Under existing law, the information obtained in the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Code is for the exclusive use and information of the Director of Employment Development in the discharge of their duties and is not open to the public. However, existing law permits the use of the information for specified purposes, and allows the director to require reimbursement for direct costs incurred. Existing law provides that a person who knowingly accesses, uses, or discloses this confidential information without authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The bill would require the Director of Employment Development to permit the use of specified information in their possession by the State Department of Health Care Services to prepare and submit the above-described report. By requiring this information to be provided to the department for these purposes, this bill would expand the crime of unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of this information, and would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law, subject to certain exceptions, also requires all types of information concerning a person, made or kept by any public officer or agency in connection with the administration of the Medi-Cal program, to be confidential, and makes knowingly releasing or possessing this confidential information punishable as a misdemeanor.
The bill would make individually identifiable information about employees or Medi-Cal enrollees contained in the above-described report subject to these confidentiality requirements. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law establishes within the Department of Industrial Relations the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, headed by the Labor Commissioner, for the purposes of enforcing labor laws. Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating against an employee for specified actions, including, among other things, taking time off to serve on a jury or because of an employee’s status as a victim of crime or abuse, as specified.
This bill would additionally prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who applies for, or is enrolled in, the Medi-Cal program. The bill would also prohibit an employer from refusing to hire a person because that person is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
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.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended senate text, May 14, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Senator Smallwood-Cuevas introduced SB 1284 on February 20, 2026, with coauthors Senators Arreguín, Becker, Cortese, Durazo, Gonzalez, McNerney, and Weber Pierson and Assembly Members Bonta, Elhawary, Kalra, and Lee. The text was amended 3 times, and heard in 8 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Senate Floor, May 27, 2026: 30 ayes, 9 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Senate Health, April 15, 2026: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ], 8-1.
- Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, April 22, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 4-1.
- Senate Appropriations, May 4, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, May 14, 2026: Do pass as amended, 5-2.
- Assembly Health, June 16, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor and Employment], 12-2.
- Assembly Labor and Employment, June 24, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 5-2.
Who supports and opposes SB 1284
The Assembly Labor and Employment analysis dated June 22, 2026 lists 11 organizations in support and 36 in opposition. When Senate Health first listed positions on April 13, 2026, the count was 4 in support and 0 opposed. By the Assembly Labor and Employment analysis of June 22, 2026 it was 11 to 36.
In support: Service Employees International Union California (sponsor); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO; California Alliance for Retired Americans; California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO; California Immigrant Policy Center; California Professional Firefighters; Courage California; Health Access California; and 3 more.
Opposed: Brea Chamber of Commerce; California Attractions and Parks Association; California Chamber of Commerce; California Farm Bureau; California Grocers Association; California League of Food Producers; California Trucking Association; Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce; and 28 more.
Read the Assembly Labor and Employment analysis.
What happens next
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for health care organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The health care group at Capitol Axis handles that for health care clients.
Questions about SB 1284
What does SB 1284 do?
This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, after obtaining specified information from the Employment Development Department (EDD), to prepare a report that includes information regarding employers in California that employ 100 or more employees and have any employees who receive benefits from the Medi-Cal program, including, among other things, the estimated total annual cost of Medi-Cal services provided to employees, and the dependents of those employees, of each employer, and submit that report to the Legislature no later than September 1, 2027, and annually there
Has SB 1284 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
Who supports and opposes SB 1284?
The Assembly Labor and Employment analysis dated June 22, 2026 lists 11 organizations in support and 36 in opposition. Supporters include Service Employees International Union California (sponsor); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO; California Alliance for Retired Americans. Opponents include Brea Chamber of Commerce; California Attractions and Parks Association; California Chamber of Commerce.
What happens next with SB 1284?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.