Measure SB-275, written by Senators Leyva and Pan, will avoid putting essential workers at risk.
New legislation aims to prevent yet another catastrophic shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to address the needs of all essential and front-line workers regarding health care.
These include workers in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient surgery centers, doctor's offices, janitors, first responders, school employees, and child care workers, among others.
Bill SB-275, by Senators Connie M. Leyva (District 20) and Senator Richard Pan (District 6), would ensure that medical employees and essential workers have PPE equipment available at all times.
The measure requires healthcare employers to have a 90-day pandemic-level supply for all workers; In addition, the state has its own reserve to help protect all essential workers during an emergency.
"This includes supermarket workers, pharmacy workers, all the people who have been there for us every day since the pandemic began," said Senator Leyva.
The bill also requires that 25% of the PPE be produced in California, so that the state does not face the situation that occurred with COVID-19 and where providers are charging exaggerated prices.
The senator indicated that this is a good law since she has now had to see how essential workers have had to find their own PPE.
“Our nurses have had a shortage of protective equipment. We (office) have tried to secure PPE for nurses in my district, but we shouldn't have to worry about that, ”added Leyva.
Jannet Wharton has worked as a registered nurse for 27 years and currently works at a Ventura hospital. She said that when the pandemic started, she had to see the changes in her work environment.
"They didn't have enough PPE equipment for everyone," Wharton said. "Before, the equipment was disposable and when the pandemic came we had to keep it as long as possible."
The Registered Nurse (RN) said she is constantly working under pressure and the possibility of contagion. Fortunately, she said, she lives alone at home and doesn't have to worry about infecting anyone.
"We are fortunate (in the hospital) not to have had serious patients like New York and in all these other places, I just hope we are prepared if there is a second wave," Wharton said.
SB 275 is supported by the SEIU
Arnulfo de la Cruz, executive vice president of the SEIU Local 2015 union, said they represent more than 400,000 long-term health care workers statewide; of them, approximately 40% are of Latin origin.
"Among them are home care providers," De la Cruz emphasized.
The union leader said that almost half of those who have died are people who were in convalescent centers and that, he stressed, is very worrying for them.
"I believe that at no time were employers or the state prepared to face a pandemic such as the coronavirus," said de la Cruz. "The pandemic came and not even these workers knew how to protect themselves."
De la Cruz said there were even workers who only received a pair of gloves and a pair of masks as soon as the outbreak occurred. Others did not have PPE equipment and had to cover their hands with plastic bags.
“In some places like Tulare or Vallejo, in a week more than 100 people were infected with several deaths. It was something we hope we never have to experience again, ”said De la Cruz. "This proposed law SB-275 tries to say that here in California now we are going to prepare to make sure that those essential workers, in the midst of a pandemic, are going to have the protective equipment that is needed."
This not only protects them, but also the patients they serve. For essential workers like supermarkets, pharmacies, and janitors, it will help keep the community and family members safe.
Senator Leyva added that the bill is currently in the assembly, but they will not vote until they return from a three-week break.
Once it is voted on and passed in both houses, it will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk for signature. This could take six to eight weeks.
The senator concluded by saying that she is very surprised by what is happening in reference to this pandemic and hopes that with the PPE approved, this situation will not happen again.
