CHI’s Legislative Action Center (LAC) provides information about state and federal legislation and regulations of importance to California’s life sciences community and the patients we serve.
CHI Policy Agenda
Read a summary of the key issues that CHI members have identified as most critical, along with CHI’s goals and activities for addressing them.
Legislative Monitoring and Action
CHI regularly monitors, provides information and describes action on state and federal legislation, regulations, and other issues of importance to biomedical research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostics organizations in California.
Get Involved
CHI members are encouraged to participate in our committees and working groups to identify legislative issues, develop positions and take action.
Health Disparities Strategy Group
CHI’s Health Disparities Strategy Group serves as a forum for the development of CHI activities highlighting member programs that seek to address and improve health disparities among minority and other underserved communities.
Meetings:
-Quarterly in-person meetings and teleconference
-Working group members are not required to participate in meetings/teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Primarily federal and state government relations staff.
STEM Education Strategy Group
CHI's STEM Education Strategy Group serves as a forum for the development of CHI activities highlighting member programs that seek to address 1) K-12 science and math education and 2) workforce development needs in the state.
Meetings:
-Quarterly in-person meetings and teleconference
-Working group members are not required to participate in meetings/teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Primarily federal and state government relations staff.
Federal Legislative Committee – (FLC)
CHI’s Federal Legislative Committee (FLC) discusses and develops positions and activities regarding federal legislation of importance to the CHI membership. The FLC also reviews the activities of CHI’s Coverage and Intellectual Property Working Groups, and assists in the development of CHI’s federal policy, education, and advocacy agenda.
Meetings:
-One-hour monthly teleconference and an in-person two-hour planning meeting in Washington D.C. at end of year.
-Committee members are not required to participate in teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Primarily Washington-D.C. based government relations staff
-Other California-based staff with responsibility for monitoring legislative/public policy issues
-Executives with an interest in federal public policy
State Legislative Committee – (SLC)
CHI’s State Legislative Committee (SLC) identifies and develops position statements on bills of interest to CHI’s membership. A subset of the SLC is the legislative strategy committee (LSC). This group is composed of Sacramento-based government affairs managers of CHI members, as well as their contract counsel. This group sets legislative strategy and takes specific advocacy assignments for bills set for policy or fiscal committees, as well as the Assembly or Senate Floor.
Meetings:
-Weekly one-hour teleconferences during the legislative session and an in-person two-hour planning meeting at end of year.
-Committee members are not required to participate in teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Primarily Sacramento-based government relations staff
-Other California-based staff with responsibility for monitoring legislative/public policy issues
-Executives with an interest in state public policy
Coverage Working Group
CHI’s Coverage Working Group serves as a forum for our members to discuss and address issues pertaining to Medicare coverage, coding, and reimbursement policies. The Committee activities focus primarily on the development of comments and correspondence to rules and regulations coming out of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Meetings:
-Meets on an ad hoc basis via teleconference as Medicare issues arise.
-Working group members are not required to participate in teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Professionals specializing in reimbursement and coverage issues
Diagnostics Regulatory (Dx) Working Group
CHI’s Dx Working Group serves as a forum for CHI member regulatory affairs and policy staff to discuss and develop positions and activities surrounding diagnostics and genetic testing product regulatory approval and reimbursement, personalized medicine, and other issues at the state and federal levels.
Meetings:
-Meets at least quarterly via in-person meetings and teleconference.
-Working group members are not required to participate in teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Predominantly regulatory personnel at CHI member firms
-Government relations staff advocating in Washington and Sacramento
Environmental Working Group
CHI’s Environmental Working Group serves as a forum for our members to discuss and address issues relating to the environment, including chemical use and regulation, waste disposal, water regulation and other issues at the state and federal levels associated with biomedical research and manufacturing.
Meetings:
-Meets at least quarterly via in-person meetings and teleconference.
-Working group members are not required to participate in teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Predominantly environmental, health and safety personnel at CHI member firms
-Government relations staff advocating in Washington and Sacramento
Intellectual Property (IP) Working Group
CHI’s IP Working Group serves as a forum for our members to discuss and address intellectual property issues, including patent law and reform, licensing and technology transfer policies, and others at the state, federal, and international levels.
Meetings:
-Meets on an ad hoc basis via teleconference as intellectual property issues arise.
-Working group members are not required to participate in teleconferences and may opt to receive email communications and updates only.
Participants:
-Predominantly IP attorneys and in-house counsel at CHI member firms
-Government relations staff advocating in Washington and Sacramento