(a) On or before July 1, 2003, the director shall adopt regulations to establish the Consumer Participation Program, which shall allow for the director to award reasonable advocacy and witness fees to any person or organization that demonstrates that the person or organization represents the interests of consumers and has made a substantial contribution on behalf of consumers to the adoption of any regulation or to an order or decision made by the director if the order or decision has the potential to impact a significant number of enrollees.
(b) The regulations adopted by the director shall include specifications for eligibility of participation, rates of compensation, and procedures for seeking compensation. The regulations shall require that the person or organization demonstrate a record of advocacy on behalf of health care consumers in administrative or legislative proceedings in order to determine whether the person or organization represents the interests of consumers.
(c) This section shall apply to all proceedings of the department, but shall not apply to resolution of individual grievances, complaints, or cases.
(d) Fees awarded pursuant to this section may not exceed three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) each fiscal year.
(e) The fees awarded pursuant to this section shall be considered costs and expenses pursuant to Section 1356 and shall be paid from the assessment made under that section. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the amount of the assessment shall not be increased to pay the fees awarded under this section.
(f) The department shall report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature before March 1, 2004, and annually thereafter, the following information:
(1) The amount of reasonable advocacy and witness fees awarded each fiscal year.
(2) The individuals or organization to whom advocacy and witness fees were awarded pursuant to this section.
(3) The orders, decisions, and regulations pursuant to which the advocacy and witness fees were awarded.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2024, deletes or extends that date.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 52, Sec. 5. (SB 97) Effective July 10, 2017. Repealed as of January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.