(San Diego) Assembly Bill 499 by State Assemblymember Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today. The bill closes a gap in the law to allow young people to seek preventive treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) without an involved parent. Currently, minors have access to diagnosis and treatment services, but not preventive services such as vaccinations.

"It doesn't make sense for our state's laws to provide youth with direct access to treatment services after they have been infected, but to leave them without the medical options that would prevent them from catching these diseases in the first place," says Atkins. "Requiring parental involvement is not always realistic or safe and we need to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to utilize life-saving preventive medicine."

Great strides in preventive medicine have been achieved since many of the laws affecting medical treatment for minors were written. A number of STDs, in particular, can be prevented by vaccines or other medical interventions, including the human papillovirus (HPV), a leading cause of cervical cancer.

AB 499 is supported by medical professionals, youth advocacy organizations, community clinics, and many others. California joins Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, and other states in closing this gap in the law.

The new law takes effect on January 1, 2012.

Contact – Dale Kelly Bankhead Office: (619) 645-3090, Cell: (619) 549-3140