California Assembly leaders are considering whether to test all of its members and essential staff for the coronavirus before May 4, when the Legislature is scheduled to reconvene in Sacramento.
Assembly members are being actively encouraged to request tests from their doctors, and the chamber is also asking Sacramento County’s public health officer to provide tests for essential staff.
"The members of the Democratic caucus have had several discussions about potentially getting tested," Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Los Angeles, said in a statement. "Due to the public nature of our work, the Sacramento County Public Health Officer is recommending Members get tested for COVID-19, and we are taking that guidance seriously."
Assembly Rules Committee Chair Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova,coordinated the effort with Peter Beilenson, the county's Director of Health Services.
"I gave the options of legislators going to be tested by their own doctors in their own districts," he said. "And if they couldn't arrange for that to happen, when they came to Sacramento, they could be tested as UC Davis (Medical Center) or UC Davis staff would come and test them at their offices."