HomeMy WebLinkAboutM- 6 Letter of Support for Senate Bil 5x 410*
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CONSENT CALENDAR
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT K. PERSON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
VIA: RICK COLE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2003
SUBJECT: LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SENATE BILL 5x-ALCOHOL RELATED EMERGENCY
SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT ACT OF 2003 "FIVE FOR LIFE"
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign, on behalf of the City,
the attached letter of support for California Senate Bill 5X: The Alcohol Related Emergency
Services Reimbursement Act of 2003 "Five for Life".
BACKGROUND
"Five for Life" places a five cent fee per drink at the wholesale level on distilled spirits, beer
and table wine sold in California. The funds collected under this measure will be placed in a
trust fund within the California Department of Health Services (DHS). This will generate
approximately $750 million per year and all revenue collected would be reimbursed, dollar for
dollar, to emergency departments, trauma centers, first responders such as firefighters and
paramedics. "Five for Life" is the only bill pending this year in the California State Legislature
that would guarantee the funds to be used for emergency rooms, trauma centers and first
responders (paramedics, firefighters and emergency transport).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this item.
2 /Y
, .. Sample LOW-of Support
[organization Name and Address]
[Mate]
The Honorable Gloria Romero
California State Senate
Capitol Building Room 5051
Sacramento, CA 95814 ,
RE: Support for SB5x:Alcohol Related Emergency Services Reimbursement Act of
2003.
Dear Senator Romero:
We are writing to express our strong support for Senate Bill 5x,the Alcohol Related
Emergency Services Reimbursement Act of 2003 that will impose on California's alcohol
distributors a five-cent fee per alcoholic beverage distributed in California. These fees •
will be deposited in a special fund that will be used to reimburse California's emergency
medical services for services that they provided as a direct result of alcohol related
injuries.
Currently,over 70 emergency rooms and trauma center in California have closed during
the past decade. These medical service providers have faced increasing operating costs,
and many report losing substantial sums of money as a direct result of being required to
provide costly emergency medical services without reimbursement. Emergency rooms
and trauma centers can no longer afford to continue to pay for these alcohol-related
services without reimbursement.
Approximately 1/3 of all injuries treated in emergency rooms and trauma centers in
California are the result of alcohol-related traffic accidents along. Additionally, a study
by the National Transportation Institute determined that for every alcohol beverage sold
in California,90 cents is spent on health care and related costs caused by alcohol-related
injuries.
Today Californian's consume approximately 700,000,000 gallons of alcohol per year.
Treating alcohol-related injuries adds additional stress to a healthcare system that is
already overburdened,overworked, and on the verge of collapse. In Los Angeles County
alone,patients are waiting up to 5 hours in emergency rooms. To add insult to injury,
they will likely be forced to close at least more ER's this year in light of Governor Davis'
proposal to cut Health and Human Services budget by over thirty percent.
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