California has passed a law aimed at guaranteeing access to gender surgery and hormonal treatments for foster children who identify as transgender. Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2119 into law on Friday, which clarifies that foster youth can have such treatments paid for by Medi-Cal, which is the state’s health insurance program for lower-income individuals and children in the foster care system.
“The right of minors and nonminors in foster care to health care and mental health care … includes covered gender-affirming healthcare and gender-affirming mental health care,” reads AB 2119. “This right is subject to existing laws governing consent to health care for minors and nonminors and does not limit, add, or otherwise affect applicable laws governing consent to health care.” FULL REPORT
