CHAPTER 8.5. Family Planning [14500. - 14512.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 8.5.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14500. Section 14500.

An Office of Family Planning shall be established within the State Department of Health Services. The Office of Family Planning shall be under the control of an executive officer who shall be known as the Coordinator of the Office of Family Planning. The coordinator shall be appointed by the State Director of Health Services and shall be an individual with training and experience in family planning.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14500.5. Section 14500.5.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that family planning includes, but is not limited to, an effective means to improve reproductive health by disease prevention and treatment, to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies, and to reduce the demand for abortions. It is the intent of the Legislature that no family planning shall be expended other than for the services enumerated in this chapter. It is also the intent of the Legislature that no funds received pursuant to this chapter be used for abortions or services ancillary to abortions. (b) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “Family planning” means the process of establishing objectives for the number and spacing of children, and selecting the means by which those objectives may be achieved. These means include a broad range of acceptable and effective methods and services to limit or enhance fertility, including contraceptive methods, natural family planning, abstinence methods, and the management of infertility. Family planning services include preconceptional counseling, maternal and fetal health counseling, and general reproductive health care, including diagnosis and treatment of infections and conditions, including cancer, that threaten reproductive capability, and other services as described in Section 14503, except for abortions and services ancillary to abortions as prohibited in Section 14509. Family planning does not include abortion, pregnancy testing solely for the purposes of referral for abortion or services ancillary to abortions, or pregnancy care which is not incident to the diagnosis of a pregnancy, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter. (2) “Abortion as a method of family planning” means the deliberate choice of abortion over other methods to limit the number, gender, and spacing of children, including, but not limited to, contraception, abstinence, and natural family planning methods. (3) “Department” means the State Department of Health Care Services. (4) “Director” means the Director of Health Care Services. (5) “Grantee” means an agency, institution, or organization approved by the department to provide family planning services pursuant to this chapter.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14501. Section 14501.

The Office of Family Planning has all of the following functions, powers, and duties: (a) To make available to citizens of the state of childbearing age comprehensive medical knowledge, assistance, and services relating to the planning of families. (b) To consult with state and local agencies that provide or administer family planning services and to participate in the formulation of regulations and other policy decisions governing the provision or administration of family planning services pursuant to state law or regulation. (c) To establish goals and priorities for all state agencies providing or administering family planning services. (d) To coordinate all family planning services and related programs conducted or administered by state agencies with the federal government so as to maximize the availability of these services by utilizing all available federal funds. (e) To conduct a survey of all of the existing facilities within the state having to do with family planning and infertility and the rendering of advice and assistance on birth control techniques and information. (f) To evaluate all existing programs and to establish in each county a viable program for the dispensation of family planning, infertility, and birth control information and techniques. (g) To develop and administer scientific investigation into problems of infertility and existing and new family planning and birth control techniques. (h) To survey, evaluate, and establish programs of professional education and training for physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students, and other health care practitioners in rendering advice on family planning, infertility, and birth control techniques and information. (i) To enter into agreements with, and award grants to, individuals, colleges, universities, associations, corporations, municipalities, and other units of government as may be deemed necessary and advisable to carry out the general intent and purposes of this chapter, which may provide for payment by the state within the limit of funds available for material, equipment, and services. (j) To post annual reports on its internet website, including, but not limited to, the subjects specified in subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive. (k) To annually update and analyze family planning data. The data shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Client number. (2) Ethnicity. (3) Family size. (4) Method. (5) Family income. (6) Service type. (7) Birthdate. (8) Total billing amount. (9) Pay source. (10) Date of visit. (11) Site number. (12) County of residence. (13) Updated estimates of women in need of subsidized family planning services from the federal government, when available, for all Office of Family Planning clinical service grantees by county of service, as well as statewide totals.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14501.5. Section 14501.5.

The Office of Family Planning shall develop and implement a sliding fee schedule for family planning services provided to individuals under this chapter. The fee schedule shall be based on family size and income.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14502. Section 14502.

The Office of Family Planning may, to the extent funds are available, and not more frequently than once each year, advance up to 25 percent of the yearly allocation to an individual or entity to which it has awarded a grant, pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 14501, to provide material, equipment, and services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14503. Section 14503.

(a) Family planning services shall be offered to all former, current, or potential recipients of childbearing age (as provided by Public Law 92-603) and provided to all eligible individuals who voluntarily request the services. The services shall be offered and provided without regard to marital status, age, or parenthood. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the furnishing of these family planning services shall not require the consent of anyone other than the person who is to receive them. Within the meaning of this section, the term “former, current, or potential recipient” means all persons eligible for Medi-Cal benefits under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) and all persons eligible for public social services for which federal reimbursement is available under the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq.), except that the term “potential recipients” includes all persons in a family where current social, economic, and health conditions of the family indicate that the family would likely become a recipient of financial assistance within the next five years. (b) Family planning services shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Medical treatment and procedures defined as family planning services under the published Medi-Cal scope of benefits. (2) Medical contraceptive services such as diagnosis, treatment, supplies, and followup. (3) Informational and educational services. (4) Facilitating services such as transportation and child care services needed to attend clinic or other appointments. (5) Screening for chlamydia. (c) To the extent the services under this section are not available under the Medi-Cal program, they shall be provided by a grantee pursuant to a grant awarded by the Office of Family Planning. These grants shall include to the maximum extent possible, cooperative funding and other financial arrangements that permit maximum use of available federal funds. All grants awarded by the Office of Family Planning shall be exempt from Division 2 (commencing with Section 1100) of the Public Contract Code. Information and referral services only shall be available to all other families and children. (d) As the single state agency responsible for the state plan under Title XX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1397 et seq.), the State Department of Social Services may provide family planning services pursuant to a purchase of services agreement with the department from funds appropriated for those services. The agreement shall authorize the Office of Family Planning to implement a sliding fee schedule for family planning services provided to clients pursuant to Title XX of the federal Social Security Act in accordance with Section 14501.5.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14503.5. Section 14503.5.

(a) As used in this section: (1) “AIDS” means acquired immune deficiency syndrome. (2) “Human immunodeficiency virus” or “HIV” means the etiologic virus of AIDS. (3) “HIV test” means “HIV test” as defined in Section 120775 of the Health and Safety Code. (b) The purpose of this article is to ensure that state-funded family planning programs offer AIDS information and referral services to their client population. (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that family planning clients learn how to prevent the transmission of HIV, and that they take steps to prevent its transmission. (d) For purposes of this section, “clients” shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following: (1) New clients to a family planning program. (2) Clients making annual visits to a family planning program. (3) Clients seeking pregnancy testing or family planning services. (4) Clients seeking diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. (e) Any family planning program that has a grant from the Office of Family Planning to provide family planning services shall do all of the following: (1) Provide brochures or other written materials to family planning clients that describe the high-risk conditions and behaviors for becoming infected with HIV and ways to prevent the transmission of HIV infection. To the maximum extent possible, the brochure or other written materials provided by any family planning program shall be culturally relevant and appropriate to the client populations served by the programs. (2) Provide, as needed, family planning clients with information about and referrals to local confidential or anonymous testing and counseling sites, AIDS education programs, and other supportive services. (f) Brochures and information required pursuant to subdivision (e) may be incorporated into existing information and health education programs provided by a family planning program. (g) The department shall make every effort to obtain brochures and other written materials from existing resources. Local family planning programs are encouraged to supplement the brochures with other available resources, to the extent that they deem necessary and appropriate.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14504. Section 14504.

(a) The Male Involvement Program shall be a continuing program within the Office of Family Planning with the goal of reducing teenage pregnancy through promoting primary prevention skills and motivation in adolescent boys and young men. In order to accomplish this goal, the program shall assist local programs to do all of the following: (1) Increase community and individual awareness regarding the importance of the roles and responsibilities of adolescent boys and young men in the reduction of teenage pregnancies. (2) Reinforce community values that support these roles and responsibilities. (3) Increase knowledge, skills, and motivation of at-risk adolescent boys and young adult men in order to actively promote their role in reducing teenage pregnancies. (b) Grants shall be made available to qualifying public or private nonprofit providers for implementation of the Male Involvement Program. (c) This section shall be implemented to the extent funding is made available through the federal government, or in the annual Budget Act or another state statute, or any combination of any sources of funding.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14504.1. Section 14504.1.

(a) The Community Challenge Grants Program shall be a continuing program within the Office of Family Planning with the goal of reducing the number of teenage pregnancies and teenage single parents, and promoting responsible parenting and the involvement of the biological father in economic, social, and emotional support of his children. (b) The program may target the following specific population groups: (1) Presexually active adolescents. (2) Sexually active adolescents. (3) Pregnant and parenting teens. (4) Parents and families. (5) Adults at risk for unwed motherhood or absentee fatherhood. (c) School-based programs that include sexuality education shall comply with the requirements of Section 51553 of the Education Code relative to the content of sex education courses, Section 51201.5 of the Education Code, which governs HIV/AIDS prevention, and Section 220 of the Education Code, which prohibits discrimination in schools based on sexual orientation. (d) Grants shall be made available to qualifying community-based nonprofit organizations and priority shall be given to those organizations with community-based partnerships that have developed effective local prevention programs. (e) This section shall be implemented to the extent funding is made available through the federal government, or in the annual Budget Act or another state statute, or any combination of any sources of funding.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14504.2. Section 14504.2.

(a) The TeenSMART Program shall be a continuing program within the Office of Family Planning with the goal of reducing teenage pregnancies and reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections among sexually active teens through enhanced reproductive health care counseling, pregnancy prevention education, and sexually transmitted infection risk reduction efforts for adolescents accessing Family PACT TeenSMART clinics. (b) The services to be provided through TeenSMART shall include counseling services and outreach in local communities to assist teens who are at high risk of pregnancy to access clinical family planning services. Outreach activities may include, but are not limited to, establishing referral networks, providing information about clinic services to teens in either formal group presentations or small group education and counseling sessions, and one-on-one education and counseling sessions. (c) Grants shall be made available to qualified public or private nonprofit providers for implementation of the TeenSMART Program. (d) This section shall be implemented to the extent funding is made available through the federal government, or in the annual Budget Act or another state statute, or any combination of any sources of funding.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14504.3. Section 14504.3.

(a) The Information and Education Program shall be a continuing program within the Office of Family Planning with the goal of decreasing teenage pregnancies through educational programs that equip teens at high risk for pregnancy with the knowledge, understanding, and behavioral skills necessary to make responsible decisions regarding at-risk behavior. (b) (1) The program shall target youths in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to, schools, juvenile justice facilities, community-based settings, social services and youth agencies, and foster care programs. (2) The program shall also focus on parents of high-risk youths and other adults responsible for serving youths at risk in an effort to assist them with effective tools for counseling at-risk youth regarding responsible behavior. (c) Priority for funding under this program shall be given to the following: (1) Programs that will increase youths’ knowledge and ability to deal responsibly with their own sexuality and the social pressures affecting them. (2) Programs that will enhance the ability of parents and other parenting adults to fulfill their roles as the primary sex educators of their children. (d) Grants shall be made available to qualified public or private nonprofit providers for implementation of the Information and Education Program. (e) This section shall be implemented to the extent funding is made available through the federal government, or in the annual Budget Act or another state statute, or any combination of any sources of funding.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14505. Section 14505.

The State Department of Health Services succeeds to and is vested with the duties, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction heretofore exercised by the Department of Benefit Payments with respect to the processing, audit, and payment of claims for family planning services under this part to the extent they are performed pursuant to the state plan under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (Medi-Cal). The State Department of Social Services succeeds to and is vested with the duties, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction heretofore exercised by the Department of Benefit Payments with respect to the processing, audit, and payment of claims for family planning services under this part to the extent they are performed pursuant to the state plan under Title XX of the federal Social Security Act. Moneys, funds, and appropriations available to the Department of Benefit Payments for the purposes of this section shall be made available to the State Department of Health Services and to the State Department of Social Services by the Director of Benefit Payments for the purposes of this section after such moneys, funds, and appropriations have been appropriated to or received by the Department of Benefit Payments.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14506. Section 14506.

The State Department of Health Services shall have the possession and control of all records, papers, equipment, and supplies held for the benefit or use of the Director of Benefit Payments in the performance of his duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction that are vested in the State Department of Health Services by Section 14505. The State Department of Social Services shall have possession and control of all records, papers, equipment, and supplies held for the benefit or use of the Director of Benefit Payments in the performance of his duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction that are vested in the State Department of Social Services by Section 14505.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14507. Section 14507.

All officers and employees of the Director of Benefit Payments who on the operative date of this section are serving in the state civil service, other than as temporary employees, and engaged in the performance of a function vested in the State Department of Health Services by Section 14505 shall be transferred to the State Department of Health Services. The status, positions, and rights of such persons shall not be affected by the transfer and shall be retained by them as officers and employees of the State Department of Health Services pursuant to the State Civil Service Act, except as to positions exempt from civil service.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14508. Section 14508.

It is the intent of the Legislature that all persons eligible for family planning services under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act and Title X of the U.S. Public Health Service Act on January 1, 1974, shall continue to be provided services notwithstanding changes in federal regulations.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14509. Section 14509.

(a) The department shall award grants to persons to provide family planning services pursuant to this chapter. (b) No funds received pursuant to grants awarded by the department pursuant to this chapter shall be used to perform abortions. (c) No funds received pursuant to grants awarded by the department pursuant to this chapter shall be used to fund services ancillary to abortions, including, but not limited to, postabortion examinations. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the provision of pregnancy testing and counseling as required by the Office of Family Planning on the effective date of this section. (d) Any person awarded a grant by the department pursuant to this chapter shall agree that during the term of the grant it will not be a group, clinic, or organization that, with funds provided pursuant to this chapter, advertises, advocates, or promotes abortion as a method of family planning, or that receives any fee or other consideration as payment for referrals for abortion services. Any person awarded a grant by the department pursuant to this chapter shall agree to the termination of the grant and to return all unexpended funds to the department that have been received from the department pursuant to that grant if the department finds that the grantee has violated this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14509.1. Section 14509.1.

(a) A grantee shall maintain records and accounts, including property, personnel, and financial records, in a form, format, and content that ensures a proper accounting for all family planning funds received pursuant to this chapter. These records shall be made available for examination during normal business hours, and shall be retained at a location determined by the director for four years after the expiration of the grant, with the exception of patient medical records, which shall be retained for at least seven years. Records for nonexpendable personal property shall be retained for three years after final disposition. (b) A grantee shall arrange for an independent audit of the family planning program. The audit shall be done in accordance with department directives and with generally accepted accounting principles for nonprofit corporations and governmental entities.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14510. Section 14510.

(a) The department shall include provisions in grants with all grantees that explicitly describe the requirements and restrictions of this chapter. (b) The department shall establish a copayment system for services provided pursuant to this chapter. No person whose documented family income is at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level shall be subject to copayments. (c) The department shall require a grantee to obtain the signature of clients receiving services pursuant to this chapter on a document that, under penalty of perjury, acknowledges that the client meets and complies with the income eligibility requirements of this chapter.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14511. Section 14511.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after the effective date of any repeal of Division 24 (commencing with Section 24000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the general statewide program for the provision of comprehensive clinical family planning services as referenced in this chapter shall be deemed to be operative in all respects, and the State Department of Health Services shall administer the program accordingly. It is the intent of the Legislature that appropriate funding be made available at that time for the general statewide program for the provision of comprehensive clinical family planning services as set forth in this chapter through the annual budget process.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14512. Section 14512.

It is the intent of the Legislature that all grants for the provision of direct services entered into by the Office of Family Planning under this chapter shall be competitively awarded.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026