AB1648 - Public health: California Epilepsy Program

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1648 Introduced by Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez January 28, 2026 An act to add Chapter 1.8 (commencing with Section 103872) to Part 2 of Division 102 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1648, as introduced, Michelle Rodriguez. Public health: California Epilepsy Program Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to conduct a program of epidemiological assessments of the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and establish a system for the collection of information determining the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. Existing law encourages the department to convene a task force comprised of researchers with expertise in Parkinson’s disease, advocates for patients with Parkinson’s disease, and other individuals with relevant expertise to provide support and advice for the implementation and funding of the program. Existing law requires the director to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. This bill would require the department to establish the California Epilepsy Program for the purposes of epidemiological assessments of the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures. The bill would require the department to convene an advisory panel comprised of specified individuals to provide support and advice for the implementation of the program. The bill would authorize the department to seek private or public funding and to spend those funds for the purposes of the program, and would authorize the department to contract with various entities for the purposes of collecting and collating data. The bill would require the department to analyze available data, to prepare and publish reports on its internet website as necessary, and to publish on its internet website a listing of agencies that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy, as specified. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 1.8 (commencing with Section 103872) is added to Part 2 of Division 102 of the Health and Safety Code, to read: CHAPTER 1.8. California Epilepsy Program 103872. For the purposes of this chapter, “epilepsy” means a disorder of the brain characterized by one or more unprovoked seizures or the diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome. 103872.1 (a) The department shall establish the California Epilepsy Program for the purposes of conducting epidemiological assessments of the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures. The program shall encompass any area of the state for which epilepsy and seizure incidence or prevalence data are available. (b) The department may seek, receive, and spend any funds received through appropriations, grants, or donations from public or private sources for the purposes of the program. (c) The department shall convene an advisory panel comprised of medical professionals with expertise in epilepsy and seizures, scientific researchers, advocates for individuals with epilepsy, and other individuals with relevant expertise to provide support and advice for the implementation of the program. (d) The department may contract with an entity, including, but not limited to, a health systems agency, single-county health department, multicounty health department grouping, or nonprofit professional association for the purposes of collecting and collating epilepsy and seizure incidence and prevalence data. (e) The department shall analyze available epilepsy and seizure incidence and prevalence data and prepare and publish reports on its internet website as necessary. (f) The department shall publish on its internet website a listing of public agencies that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy, including, but not limited to, Medi-Cal, regional centers, and the Department of Education. This list may also include private entities that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy.