🤟 GOOD BILL ALERT 🤟 Senate Republicans Urge Governor to Sign Bill Providing a Hearing Lifeline for Children

California Senate Republicans continue their efforts to support vulnerable populations as they are urging the governor to sign Senate Bill 331 (D-Menjivar), the Let California Kids Hear Act. The bill would ensure that kids who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing have access to cochlear implants or hearing aids, no matter what type of insurance their parents have. 

California’s current system is beyond broken. With a $30 million budget allocation and five years to get the existing system off the ground, only 338 members are currently enrolled.

“It’s been 28 years since California passed one of the nation’s first newborn hearing screening laws, yet parents are still struggling to access hearing aids for their children,” said Senate Republican Leader-Elect Roger Niello(R-Fair Oaks), a co-author of the measure. “I am proud to stand with a bipartisan group of colleagues in support of adding coverage for kids' hearing aids to health plans.”

In prior years, the governor vetoed similar measures, but SB 331 addresses his concerns about driving up healthcare costs by limiting the proposal to the large-group commercial insurance market and providing a cap on the dollar amount of the coverage.

"When children’s hearing is impaired, it is not just an inconvenience. It slows school progress, delays the growth of language skills, and harms social and emotional development,” said Senator Megan Dahle (R-Bieber), a co-author of the bipartisan legislation. “We have the tools to help kids hear. Basic decency demands we support families by covering hearing aids through insurance. Help kids grow. Let kids hear."

For every child with untreated hearing loss, the societal cost has been estimated at more than $1.9 million over a lifetime due to impacts on language development, literacy, education, employment, and long-term dependence.

“This bill provides the state both the opportunity and the responsibility to act,” said Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa). “It will improve affordability for families, strengthen timely access to care for parents, and open a life-changing window of opportunity for children with hearing loss.”

In 2023, when vetoing a similar measure, Gov. Newsom said: " ... improving access to hearing aids for children is a priority for my Administration. We can, and we must, do better for these children and their families. ..."

Time is nearly up, Governor; make this effort a true priority and sign it today! 

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