Law Extends California Funding For Pediatric Trauma Centers
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Funding for pediatric trauma centers throughout California will be extended after a Los Angeles legislator's bill was signed into law Tuesday.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, authored SB 191, which allows counties to continue to collect funds for local emergency services.
"There are only 14 pediatric trauma care centers in our state of 38 million people," Padilla pointed out. "Funding is a major barrier to opening additional trauma centers. When pediatric trauma patients must be transported by helicopter, the time that elapses during transport can impact survival and recovery rates."
Under the law, counties are specifically allowed to continue to impose a $2 penalty on every $10 fine for certain criminal and vehicle code violations. Fifteen percent of that total will be directed toward emergency pediatric trauma care.
The law will take effect January 1 and will be extended to January 1, 2017.
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