Senate Subcommittee on Disease, Morbidity, and Mortality Disparity

Committee History

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).

From the guide to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Records, 1968-2004, (California State Archives)