Governor Brown Signs Bill to Move California Health Exchange Forward

Here is some good news on a bill that makes sense that gives California the authority to receive criminal record information for employees who will have access to personal identifying information of applicants and enrrollees of the new health benefit exchange.  This will be for employees who will at the customer service centers throughout the state–including the Concord facility.

Here is the press release

SB 509, authored by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), was signed by Governor Brown yesterday.

SB 509 gives Covered California the authority to receive criminal record information from the Department of Justice for employees who will have access to personal identifying information of applicants and enrollees of the new health benefit exchange. Covered California needs to conduct background checks on employees who will work at customer service centers throughout the state, and begin enrolling Californians in our new health benefit exchange this fall.

“I would like to thank Governor Brown for signing this bill to keep California on the forefront of implementing the Affordable Care Act,” Senator DeSaulnier said. “This bill will allow Covered California to begin hiring the employees that will start enrolling Californians into our new health exchange this fall. Covered California will be hiring workers to staff customer service facilities throughout the state,

including a new call center in Concord. SB 509 also provides important consumer protections, ensuring that the personal information of Covered California enrollees and applicants are only viewed by workers who have undergone a thorough background check.”

Additionally, any contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, and vendors must undergo background checks if they will have access to personal identifying information of Covered California applicants and enrollees. These background checks meet federal requirements that Covered California protects and safeguards customers’ personal information.