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AB-1648 • 2026

Public health: California Epilepsy Program

Public health: California Epilepsy Program

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Michelle Rodriguez
Last action
2026-05-14
Official status
In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about when the program must start or finish its work, nor does it specify exact funding amounts.

California Epilepsy Program

This law establishes the California Epilepsy Program for studying and tracking epilepsy and seizures in the state.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a program called the California Epilepsy Program to conduct epidemiological assessments of the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures.
  • Requires the department to convene an advisory panel with specified individuals to provide support and advice for implementing the program.
  • Authorizes the department to seek private or public funding and spend those funds for the purposes of the program.
  • Allows the department to contract with various entities for collecting and collating data on epilepsy and seizures.
  • Requires the department to analyze available data, prepare reports, and publish them on its internet website as necessary.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who have epilepsy or know someone with epilepsy
  • Healthcare providers and researchers studying epilepsy

Terms To Know

epidemiological assessments
Studies that look at how often diseases happen in a population.
prevalence
The total number of cases of a disease in a specific time and place.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify exactly how much money the program will get.
  • Does not say when the program must start or finish its work.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  2. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  3. 2026-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2026-02-17 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  5. 2026-01-29 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 28.

  6. 2026-01-28 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1648, as introduced, Michelle Rodriguez.
Public health: California Epilepsy Program
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to conduct a program of epidemiological assessments of the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and establish a system for the collection of information determining the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. Existing law encourages the department to convene a task force comprised of researchers with expertise in Parkinson’s disease, advocates for patients with Parkinson’s disease, and other individuals with relevant expertise to provide support and advice for the implementation and funding of the program. Existing law requires the director to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of Parkinson’s disease.
This bill would require the department to establish the California Epilepsy Program for the purposes of epidemiological assessments of the
incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures. The bill would require the department to convene an advisory panel comprised of specified individuals to provide support and advice for the implementation of the program. The bill would authorize the department to seek private or public funding and to spend those funds for the purposes of the program, and would authorize the department to contract with various entities for the purposes of collecting and collating data. The bill would require the department to analyze available data, to prepare and publish reports on its internet website as necessary, and to publish on its internet website a listing of agencies that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF