Senator Arreguín's Bill to Ensure Healthcare Spaces are Safe Spaces Passes Health Committee
Sacramento, CA - Today, Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley) presented to the Senate Committee on Health his bill, SB 81, that would require healthcare providers to create nonpublic areas to ensure they continue to be safe spaces for our communities and support patient care. Additionally, this bill strengthens privacy protections for immigrants by recognizing that immigration status is part of a patient’s medical record. The Committee passed the bill.
“Healthcare is a human right — and no one should have to choose between seeking medical care and fearing detention or deportation. Not in California. Not anywhere,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín. “Our immigrant community deserve respect and dignity. I’m proud to present SB 81 to protect California’s immigrant communities and to stand up for the people who hold this state together. This isn’t just smart policy – it’s the right thing to do.”
In 2017, SB 54, the California Values Act — a landmark victory for immigrant rights — was signed into law, and this bill builds upon its foundation by codifying guidance from California’s Attorney General into law. SB 54 was created in response to actions by the first Trump Administration to attack and intimidate California’s immigrant communities. California’s immigrant community are the backbone of the state’s economy and its culture and they must be protected so that no one should have to choose between seeking medical care and fearing detention or deportation.
“SB 81 is essential to ensure the safety of our constituents in every district across California. Let’s recall the chilling effects of President Trump's 2019 Public Charge rule, where undocumented individuals, including citizen children in these families, were afraid to seek healthcare coverage and missed vital healthcare appointments. We are seeing that same effect today,” said Senator Caroline Menjivar, MSW (D-Van Nuys). “Healthcare is a fundamental human right. Our state must reaffirm that Immigration Enforcement has no place in our health systems and thus prohibit healthcare provider entities and their personnel from granting access to these nonpublic areas without a valid judicial warrant or court order.”
California is the state with the largest immigration population in the nation, where 1 in 4 Californians are immigrations, 1 in nearly 2 California children live in an immigrant family, and nearly half of California workers are immigrants or children of immigrants. According to the California Budget & Policy Center, undocumented immigrants in California paid $8.5 billion in taxes in 2022, helping fund critical programs and public services. California’s immigrant community is not only essential, but also foundational -- they care for our children, grow our food, build our homes, and drive our progress.
“We will not allow our communities to be intimidated by draconian federal immigration policies that undermine their access to medical care,” said California Latino Legislative Caucus Chair, Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “Through SB 81, we will fight to ensure our hospitals and healthcare facilities are safe places for all families in California. Thank you to our colleagues in the Senate for supporting this important bill, and we urge your support to continue its progress in the legislative process.”
The bill, one of the key priorities of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, has received support from dozens of organizations, and is co-sponsored by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the California Immigrant Policy Center, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, and the California Nurses Association.
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