SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, cleared two health bills from the State Assembly this week. The bills, AB 769 and AB 1051, would expand jobs in mental health and nursing, respectively.

AB 769 would include Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) into the Medi-Cal reimbursement system. Currently, psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are eligible for reimbursement for services they provide.

“I am proud AB 769 would honor the important services LPCCs already provide with their work in mental health and substance abuse treatment,” Assemblywoman Smith said. “Currently, LPCCs do not qualify for Medi-Cal reimbursement, creating a hiring disincentive at Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Centers. It’s time we prioritize affordable access to mental health by addressing gaps in our workforce, especially in rural and remote areas, so we can serve all Californians.”

AB 1051 would help recruit and retain nursing faculty in community colleges. Under current rigorous standards for nursing programs, faculty quickly exceed the course load cap, leading to high instructor turnover rates and a loss of continuity for students’ classroom and clinical education. This bill establishes an exemption to allow clinical nursing faculty to exceed the 67 percent course load gap for part-time faculty.

“I have the utmost respect for nurses, especially for those who bring their expertise in care to the classroom to support and educate the next generation of nurses,” Assemblywoman Smith said. “At the same time, with our growing baby boomer population and the rise in chronic diseases, our state will need nurses now more than ever. This bill would help us meet the job demands in our state while advancing our nursing education programs.”

Both bills are now headed to Senate committees for voting.

Assemblywoman Christy Smith represents California’s 38th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Agua Dulce, Castaic, Santa Susana Knolls and North San Fernando Valley.