The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the nation's and the state's unpreparedness. One specific example—the lack of an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE)—is addressed in this new bill introduced by State Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Pomona), author of last year's "Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals" bill, and Senator Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), Chair of the Senate Health Committee. The bill is designed to keep California’s healthcare workforce and other essential workers safe.

SB 275 creates a reliable supply of PPE to ensure healthcare workers, essential workers, and the public at large are protected during the next health emergency.

SB 275 would:

• Require healthcare employers to have a three-month pandemic level supply for all healthcare workers.
• Require the state to create a three-month pandemic stockpile for use during an emergency, which will help protect all essential workers.
• Require that 25% of the PPE be produced within California to ensure that we won’t have to scramble for PPE or find ourselves completely at the mercy of unscrupulous suppliers.
• Prioritize low-income, medically underserved areas to ensure communities of color have access to PPE if there's not enough to meet the need.

Read more about the bill here: SB 275 Fact Sheet