Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan.

Agriculture Healthcare Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Ortega
Last action: 2025-10-06
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 370, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how many people will be affected by this change.

Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan

This law changes how much money the state gives to help cover high medical costs for farm workers and their families.

What This Bill Does

Changes the threshold from $70,000 to $50,000 for claim payments that exceed this amount made by the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan on behalf of eligible employees or dependents for a single episode of care.

Who It Names or Affects

Farm workers and their family members who need medical care.
The State Department of Health Care Services which provides funding.

Terms To Know

Reimburse: To pay back money spent by someone else, like the state paying for high medical bills.
Eligible employee or dependent: Farm workers and their family members who can get help from the plan.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies until January 1, 2031.
It does not specify how many people will be helped by this change.

Bill History

2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 370, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-15 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 2612.).
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-07-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-06-26 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-02 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 1. Page 1833.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-02-11 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
2025-02-10 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 499, Ortega.
Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan.
Existing law, the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, is a nonprofit voluntary employees beneficiary association, organized under federal law, that provides payments for health care and other benefits to its members. Existing law, until January 1, 2031, requires the State Department of Health Care Services to annually reimburse the plan up to $3,000,000 per year for claim payments that exceed $70,000 made by the plan on behalf of an eligible employee or dependent for a single episode of care on or after September 1, 2016.
This bill would require the department to annually reimburse the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan up to $3,000,000 per year for claim payments that exceed $50,000 made by the plan on behalf of an eligible employee or dependent for a single episode of care.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF