Advocacy Alert: California “Fee Freeze” Bill Passes First Hurdle

March 30, 2023

via CCAPP

California AB 1477 (Quirk-Silva) passed its first committee in the Assembly on Tuesday, March 21, on a vote of 11-0. The bill will "freeze" license and certification fees at 2022 rates for all programs until 2031 and would limit yearly increases for these fees to 15% per year until the licensing fund is balanced.

Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva emphasized the need to help California programs through this critical period.

"California experienced a 45% increase in deaths due to overdose. Substance use treatment is crucial. We need to make sure that the non-profit service providers are able to stay open and continue to deliver the services needed in our communities," said Quirk-Silva.

"As a sponsor of the bill, we ensured that AB 1477 was carefully crafted to delay fee increases to allow our programs to recover from pandemic setbacks, encourage expansion to meet the explosive growth in demand, and deliver a message from policymakers that our contributions to reducing deaths and homelessness are valued," said CCAPP President and CEO Pete Nielsen.

"CCAPP listens to its members and delivers when they bring concerns to us. I am extremely proud of our legislative program today and I am thankful to our colleagues at the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies for their co-sponsorship," said Nielsen.

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