(a) The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) shall enter into partnerships, consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 127693, in consultation with other state departments as necessary, to increase competition, lower prices, and address shortages in the market for generic prescription drugs, to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for public and private purchasers, taxpayers, and consumers, and to increase patient access to affordable drugs.
(b) CHHSA shall have the ability to hire staff to oversee and project-manage the partnerships for manufacturing or distribution of generic prescription drugs, contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose.
(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 207, Sec. 1. (SB 852) Effective January 1, 2021.)