AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the operator of the largest non-government HIV testing program in California, today praised the California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing Assembly Bill 221, legislation which updates and streamlines the training of counselors for rapid HIV testing by exempting persons administering finger stick rapid HIV tests from the requirement for certification as a limited phlebotomy technician (LPT). AB 221 has been designated an urgency bill, and as such, it will go into effect immediately rather than early next year.
The bill, authored by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (D—Pasadena) and co-sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, eliminates barriers to expanding access to HIV rapid screening by reforming outdated, unnecessary and excessive training standards for HIV counselors who administer the finger stick rapid test.
“In signing AB 221, Governor Schwarzenegger has removed yet another barrier to widespread screening for HIV, ensuring that California offers a favorable environment for people to learn their HIV status and get into life-saving treatment, if needed,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, co-sponsor of the bill. “We thank the Governor for his swift signature on this important legislation, and also thank Assembly Member Portantino for his leadership authoring and carrying this pragmatic and money-saving bill through to becoming law.”