SACRAMENTO – Senator Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) today announced that two of his bills – Senate Bill 593 and 751 – cleared the Senate Floor with bipartisan support. Each piece of legislation increases transparency and accountability in its respective area.

Senate Bill 593 would require each California member of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to comply with the requirements of the Political Reform Act, and to file with the Fair Political Practices Commission a statement of economic interests.

“Currently, the California members of the TRPA can make decisions in which they have a conflict of interest and the public has no way of knowing,” said Gaines. “SB 593 would better enable the public to hold these members accountable and creates an important layer of transparency and oversight for this governing board.”

Senate Bill 751 is a straightforward measure that will give consumers access to cost and quality information regarding hospitals in their communities. Consumers will be able to use this valuable information to determine which hospital will provide the best care for their ailment.

“This bill is based on one simple principle…consumers have the right to know what the actual costs are for the health care services they are paying for,” said Gaines. “By giving consumers access to this data, we are empowering them to make informed decisions about their healthcare, which I believe is one part of the equation to stem the tide of escalating costs.”

Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento and Sierra counties.