Senate Health and Human Services Committee Records, 1968-2004

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Summary

Title:
Senate Health and Human Services Committee Records
Dates:
1968-2004
Creators:
Senate Health and Welfare Committee;, Senate Health and Human Services Committee;, Senate Subcommittee on Aging;, Senate Subcommittee on Aging and Long Term Care;, Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism;, Senate Subcommittee on Disabled;, Senate Subcommittee on Disease, Morbidity, and Mortality Disparity;, Senate Subcommittee on Environment Health;, Senate Subcommittee on Genetic Diseases;, Senate Subcommittee on Indigent Health Care Services;, Senate Subcommittee on Medical Education and Health Needs;, Senate Subcommittee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Genetic Diseases;, Senate Subcommittee on Nutrition and Human Needs;, Senate Subcommittee on Social Services and Welfare;, Senate Subcommittee on Welfare Services for the Spanish Speaking;, and Senate Subcommittee on Youth Physical Health and Fitness
Abstract:
The records of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and Senate Health and Human Services Committee consist of 134 cubic feet of material reflecting the activities of the committee in introducing and investigating legislation related to California's Health and Safety Code and Welfare and Institutions Code. The records cover the years 1970-2004. The record group also includes the records of many subcommittees.
Extent:
134 cubic feet, 394 audiotapes, 17 videotapes, 62 photographs, 5 reel-to-reel tapes
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], [Name of Committee] Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and Senate Health and Human Services Committee consist of 134 cubic feet of material reflecting the activities of the committee in introducing and investigating legislation related to California's Health and Safety Code and Welfare and Institutions Code. The records cover the years 1970-2004. The committee records are comprised of bill files, hearing files, subject files, office files, correspondence, and budget files.

Among the bill files, hearing files and subject files researchers will find information on health related topics such as mental health, health care insurance, nursing home regulations, child support and custody, and child safety. The committee also collected extensive materials on the state and federal welfare systems and programs during the 1980s and 1990s. These welfare materials include reports, videotapes, correspondence, and fact sheets, which were used to form welfare policy. Documents from the Special Conference Committee on Welfare Reform and the Steering Committee on Welfare Reform are included in the subject files.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee records also include the records of many subcommittees: the Senate Subcommittee on Aging renamed the Senate Subcommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care; the Senate Subcommittee on Disease, Morbidity, and Morality Disparity; the Senate Subcommittee on Indigent Health Care Services; Senate Subcommittee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Genetic Diseases; Senate Subcommittee on Social Services and Welfare; and the Senate Subcommittee on Youth Physical Health and Fitness. The subcommittee files focus on specific health and welfare issues and contain material such as public hearing files, bill files, subject files, and reports.

It is anticipated that the Archives will receive further records from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Researchers should check the accession binders in the Archives Reference Room for recently received, unprocessed records.

Biographical / historical:

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee was created with the adoption of Senate Resolution 9 on January 6, 1970. The Health and Welfare Committee evolved from the consolidation of three former standing Senate committees: the Institutions Committee; Public Health and Safety Committee formerly the Public Health Committee; and the Labor and Social Welfare Committee, formerly the Social Welfare Committee. At its inception, the eleven members of the Health and Welfare Committee were to review "all bills relating to public health; welfare; alcoholic beverages; and all bills relating to the State Department of Mental Hygiene or to institutions under its jurisdiction, including: state hospitals, homes for the feeble-minded, inebriate colonies, institutions for delinquents, homes for blind, industrial workshops, and any other institutions of a similar nature; and all bills relating to the Youth Authority and to institutions under its jurisdiction" (California Legislature at Sacramento, 1970, p93). In 1972, the number of committee members had been increased to thirteen and bills relating to alcoholic beverages were no longer referred to the Health and Welfare Committee, but to the Business and Professions Committee.

By 1978, the Health and Welfare Committee's responsibilities were simplified and the nine members now reviewed "bills relating to public health, welfare, the blind and disabled, alcoholism, mental health and the Youth Authority, and institutions related thereto" (California Legislature at Sacramento, 1978, p110-111). In 1981, bills relating to drug abuse were added to the committee's jurisdiction for review. During the 1980s the number of committee members fluctuated between nine to seven members nearly every year. Five Senators chaired the Health and Welfare Committee: Anthony C. Beilenson (Dem.) 1970-1975, Arlen Gregorio (Dem.) 1976-1978, John R. Garamendi (Dem.) 1979-1980, and Diane Watson (Dem.) 1981-1983.

On February 17, 1984, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 33 which changed the committee name to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, but its scope did not change. Senator Diane Watson remained the Committee Chair and served in this position until 1998. In 1999, Senator Deborah Ortiz (Dem.) became the committee Chair and is currently serving in this position as of April 2006. From 1984 through 2002 the committee's responsibilities remained focused on, "bills relating to public health, welfare, the blind and disabled, alcohol and drug abuse, mental health, and institutions related thereto" (California Legislature at Sacramento, 1984, p77).

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the Senate Health and Welfare and Health and Human Services Committee records according to state law.
Arrangement:

The Senate Health and Welfare and Health and Human Services Committee records are organized into six series: (1) Bill Files, (2) Hearing Files, (3) Subject Files, (4) Office Files, (5) Correspondence, and (6) Budget Files. The subcommittee files follow the standing committee files and are arranged alphabetically by subcommittee name.

Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Sara Roberson
Date Prepared:
© 2006
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Sara Roberson. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: September 8, 2006.

Access and use

Restrictions:

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives' collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], [Name of Committee] Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website