State public health officials seek funding to track California shootings

California Gov. Jerry Brown is considering signing a bill that would require the state’s Department of Public Health to track shootings, homicides and suicides in the state.

The bill, authored by Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan, would require the department to publish a summary and analysis of the data online for public viewing. Any identifiable information of individuals would be confidential. The state previously operated a violent death reporting system with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that funding ended in 2008 and private funding ran out in 2010.

Patient advocates and groups working to end violence say collecting the data again will help inform strategies that could help prevent violent deaths in California.

The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 63-15 last week, does not include funding to operate the database, which officials estimate would cost roughly $760,000 a year. Brown has until Sept. 30 to review the bill. According to a spokesperson, the governor has not yet decided whether he will sign the bill.