Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Sunday in an effort to help Fresno County continue to provide health care services for the indigent and undocumented population. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Henry T. Perea, comes several weeks after the county voted to eliminate a health safety net for undocumented immigrants.
Assembly bill 2731 allows the county the option to delay the payment of $5.5 million which the county owes to its local Road Fund for Maintenance-of-Effort. The state will defer the payment only if the county continues the services for the poor, including undocumented immigrants.
“It’s time for the board of supervisors to step up and do the right thing for these people in our community who pick our crops and provide us with services,” Assemblymember Perea said in a statement.
Fresno County was able to provide medical services to the county’s indigent population through its long running contract with Community Regional Medical Center. But in August the county’s board of supervisors voted to end its contract with CRMC. The changes are expected to take effect December 1.
Agricultural organizations, including the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and the Nisei Farmers League, are supporters of AB 2731.
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on this matter in a few weeks.
