BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       


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                              UNFINISHED BUSINESS


          Bill No:  SB 1955
          Author:   Figueroa (D), et al
          Amended:  8/27/02
          Vote:     27

           
           SENATE BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE :  5-0, 5/6/02
          AYES:  Figueroa, Johannessen, Machado, O'Connell, Polanco

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8

          SENATE FLOOR  :  30-8, 5/28/02
          AYES:  Ackerman, Alarcon, Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Burton,  
            Costa, Dunn, Escutia, Figueroa, Johannessen, Karnette,  
            Kuehl, Machado, Margett, McPherson, Monteith, Murray,  
            O'Connell, Ortiz, Peace, Perata, Polanco, Romero, Scott,  
            Sher, Soto, Speier, Torlakson, Vasconcellos
          NOES:  Brulte, Haynes, Johnson, Knight, McClintock, Morrow,  
            Oller, Poochigian

           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  74-0, 8/29/02 - See last page for vote


           SUBJECT  :    Medical boards

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill extends the sunset dates for the Board  
          of Podiatric Medicine, the Physical Therapy Board and the  
          Respiratory Care Board; eliminates the existing Optometry  
          Board, creates a newly appointed Optometry Board, extends  
          the sunset date for the new Optometry Board for two years,  
          and makes other changes to the Optometry Board pursuant to  
                                                           CONTINUED





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          the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Sunset Review  
          Committee (JLSRC) and the Department of Consumer Affairs  
          (DCA).  

           Assembly Amendments  add the provisions:

          1. Make changes dealing with disciplinary actions against a  
             physical therapy licensee on probation and require the  
             Physical Therapy Board of California to do the  
             monitoring.

          2. Authorize the Franchise Tax Board to relay unlicensed  
             activity of tax preparers to the California Tax  
             Education Council.

          3. Add provisions relating to the qualification of a public  
             member on a board.

          4. Require that new and old members complete a training and  
             orientation program.

          5. Include provisions to avoid chaptering out problems with  
             SB 1950 and SB 2026.

           ANALYSIS  :    This bill:

          1. Makes the following changes pertaining to the State  
             Board of Optometry (SBO):

             A.    Provides for the reconstitution of the existing  
                SBO on January 1, 2003.  

             B.    Extends the inoperative and repeal dates of the  
                new SBO and executive officer to July 1, 2005 and  
                January 1, 2006, respectively.

             C.    Adds two public members to the composition of the  
                SBO. 

             D.    Specifies that the new SBO shall retain the  
                authority previously vested by the existing SBO with  
                respect to conducting investigations, inquiries, and  
                disciplinary actions or proceedings.  Additionally,  
                specifies that the new SBO may enforce all  







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                disciplinary actions undertaken by the current SBO.  

             E.    Specifies that no member serving on the SBO from  
                January 1, 2000 to June 1, 2002, shall eligible for  
                re-appointment.

             F.    Specifies that the SBO may adopt regulations  
                clarifying the level of training and the level of  
                supervision of assistants. 

          1. Makes the following changes pertaining to the Board of  
             Podiatric Medicine (BPM):

             A.    Extends the inoperative and repeal dates of the  
                BPM for four years, to July 1, 2007, and January 1,  
                2008, respectively. 

             B.    Specifies that an applicant for licensure shall  
                have passed Parts I, II, and III of the examination  
                administered by the National Board of Podiatric  
                Medicine. 

             C.    Refines the BPM continuing competency program by  
                adding passage of Part III of the examination within  
                the past 10 years as an additional pathway.

             D.    Extends the sunset date on the biennial renewal  
                fee by two years to January 1, 2006.  

          1. Makes the following changes pertaining to the  
             Respiratory Care Board (RCB):

             A.    Extends the inoperative and repeal dates of the  
                RCB for four years, to July 1, 2007, and January 1,  
                2008, respectively. 

             B.    Specifies that completion of a RCB approved  
                respiratory care program and an Associates Degree are  
                requirements for licensure.  

             C.    Specifies that the RCB may deny, suspend, or  
                revoke a license for working or applying for work  
                under the influence of alcohol.  








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             D.    Authorizes the RCB to issue citations to those  
                employers and persons performing the duties and  
                functions of a respiratory care therapist when they  
                are clearly not qualified and authorized to do so. 

             E.    Allows respiratory care therapists placed on  
                probation for misdemeanor crimes the opportunity to  
                terminate probation providing the opportunity to  
                ensure fair discipline is imposed in accordance with  
                the RCB's new policy on discipline.

             F.    Makes other technical and clarifying changes. 

          1. Makes the following changes pertaining to the Physical  
             Therapy Board of California (PTBC):

             A.    Extends the inoperative and repeal dates of the  
                PTBC for four years, to July 1, 2007, and January 1,  
                2008, respectively. 

             B.    Includes PTs and PTAs in the mandated reporting of  
                civil law suits and peer review (commonly referred to  
                as Section 805 reporting). 

             C.    Requires PTs to document all treatment in a  
                patient record. 

             D.    Requires PTs to provide complete information to  
                the patient regarding their treatment and care. 

             E.    Redefines what constitutes unprofessional conduct  
                and enables the PTBC to discipline PTAs for such  
                conduct.  

           Comments  :

          This bill is one of six "sunset review bills" authored by  
          the Chair of the JLSRC.  They are intended to implement  
          legislative changes as recommended by the JLSRC for several  
          licensing boards reviewed by the JLSRC in 2001/02.  

           FISCAL EFFECT :    Appropriation:  Yes   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No








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           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  : 
          AYES:  Aanestad, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Bates, Bogh,  
            Briggs, Calderon, Bill Campbell, John Campbell,  
            Canciamilla, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Chan, Chavez,  
            Chu, Cogdill, Cohn, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Daucher, Diaz,  
            Dickerson, Dutra, Firebaugh, Florez, Frommer, Goldberg,  
            Harman, Havice, Horton, Jackson, Keeley, Kehoe, Kelley,  
            Koretz, La Suer, Leach, Leonard, Leslie, Liu, Longville,  
            Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews, Migden, Mountjoy,  
            Nakano, Nation, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Robert Pacheco,  
            Pavley, Pescetti, Reyes, Richman, Salinas, Shelley,  
            Simitian, Steinberg, Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thomson,  
            Vargas, Washington, Wayne, Wiggins, Wright, Wyland,  
            Zettel, Wesson


          CP:jk  8/29/02   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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