ARTICLE 2. The Scientific Guidance Panel [105448. - 105451.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 2.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 105448. Section 105448.

(a) In implementing the program, the department and the agency shall establish a Scientific Guidance Panel. The panel shall be composed of nine members, whose expertise shall encompass the disciplines of public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental medicine, risk analysis, exposure assessment, developmental biology, laboratory sciences, bioethics, maternal and child health with a specialty in breastfeeding, and toxicology. (b) The Governor shall appoint five members to the panel, the Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint two members, and the Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint two members. The appointments shall be made after soliciting recommendations of the Office of the President of the University of California. (c) All members shall be appointed to the panel by September 1, 2007. Members shall be appointed for three-year terms, except that, with respect to the initial appointees each appointing power shall appoint one member for a one-year term and one member for a two-year term. Members may be reappointed for additional terms without limitation. (d) The panel shall meet as often as it deems necessary, with consideration of available resources, but at a minimum, three times per year. The office shall be responsible for staffing and administration of the panel. (e) The panel meetings shall be open to the public and be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (f) Members of the panel shall be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this chapter, but shall not receive a salary or compensation.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 105449. Section 105449.

(a) The panel shall provide scientific peer review and make recommendations regarding the design and implementation of the program, including specific recommendations for chemicals that are priorities for biomonitoring in California, as specified in subdivisions (b) and (c), with the program retaining final decisionmaking authority. (b) The panel shall recommend priority chemicals for inclusion in the program using the following criteria: (1) The degree of potential exposure to the public or specific subgroups, including, but not limited to, occupational. (2) The likelihood of a chemical being a carcinogen or toxicant based on peer-reviewed health data, the chemical structure, or the toxicology of chemically related compounds. (3) The limits of laboratory detection for the chemical, including the ability to detect the chemical at low enough levels that could be expected in the general population. (4) Other criteria that the panel may agree to. (c) The panel may recommend additional designated chemicals not included in the CDC report, for inclusion in the program using the following criteria: (1) Exposure or potential exposure to the public or specific subgroups. (2) The known or suspected health effects resulting from some level of exposure based on peer-reviewed scientific studies. (3) The need to assess the efficacy of public health actions to reduce exposure to a chemical. (4) The availability of a biomonitoring analytical method with adequate accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and speed. (5) The availability of adequate biospecimen samples. (6) The incremental analytical cost to perform the biomonitoring analysis for the chemical.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 105451. Section 105451.

(a) As appropriate, the program shall utilize the principles of the agency’s Environmental Justice Strategy and Environmental Justice Action Plan developed pursuant to Sections 71110 to 71113, inclusive, of the Public Resources Code, so that the activities of the panel and the implementation of the program provide opportunities for public participation and community capacity building with meaningful stakeholder input. This strategy and plan shall accord the highest respect and value to every individual and community by developing and conducting public health and environmental protection programs, policies, and activities in a manner that promotes equity and affords fair treatment, accessibility, and protection for all Californians, regardless of race, age, culture, income, or geographic location. (b) (1) To carry out this section, the program shall develop a strategy and plan that are to be followed in the implementation of the program. This strategy and plan shall be used to establish the framework for integrating public participation in this program. The department may utilize models used by boards, departments, and offices at the agency for community outreach pursuant to this section. (2) Public participation shall include, but need not be limited to, conducting stakeholder meetings and workshops to solicit relevant information, data, suggestions, and feedback for the development and implementation of the program.

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