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California senator introduces new bill to aid high hospital capacity levels

Jessica Moore, a Registered Nurse, adds a blanket over a COVID-19 positive patient in prone position due to being on a ventilator inside the infectious disease unit (IDU) at Helen Keller Hospital, in Sheffield, Ala., Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (Dan Busey/The TimesDaily via AP)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KRON) — Senator Bill Dodd introduced a pandemic bill in response to increasing hospital capacity levels Friday morning.

The new Senate Bill 979 contains several provisions. The bill aims to help California hospitals increase patient bed occupancy and expand health insurance coverage for individuals. Officials say the bill also will make it easier for new and non-California residents to receive medical treatment.


Dodd says the bill will help California hospitals adapt to the increase of pandemic, emergency and natural disaster victims.

The bill is sponsored by the California Hospital Association, officials say.