SB 798

Currently, the Department of Health Services awards Mike Johnson life care

and early intervention services grants to applying organizations for HIV-related

services, including needs assessments, assistance in procuring services, counseling

and therapy, home care services and supplies, advocacy, case management services,

and early intervention services. Current law sets the following criteria on the grants:

funds must be used to provide medical care and support services for individuals with

HIV and funds may not be used for political purposes or to develop materials or fund

AIDS programs that promote intravenous drug use or sexual activity.

This bill adds to the required uses of the grant funds providing access to clinical

services and laboratory testing for individuals who are at risk for HIV to obtain

access to pre-exposure prophylaxis. Additionally, the bill specifies that grantees

must be applying AIDS service organizations. AIDS service organizations, as

defined under current law, are nonprofit corporations or public agencies that provide

or arrange for comprehensive services to prevent HIV infection and comprehensive

health and social services for persons who have HIV infection and that have been

designated so by DHS.