BILL NUMBER: AB 1586	CHAPTERED  10/04/01

	CHAPTER  509
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 4, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 4, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 3, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 19, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 26, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Negrete McLeod

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to add Sections 2425.1 and 2425.3 to the Business and
Professions Code, relating to the healing arts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1586, NegreteMcLeod.  Healing arts:  physicians and surgeons.
   The Medical Practice Act provides for the licensure by the Medical
Board of California of physicians and surgeons as well as other
healing arts practitioners.  The act requires each licensed physician
to complete a questionnaire sent to him or her at the time of
license renewal that seeks specified information.
   This bill would additionally require each licensed physician to
report to the board at the time of license renewal, any specialty
board certification he or she holds and his or her practice status.
The bill would authorize a physician to report to the board his or
her cultural background and foreign language proficiency.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 2425.1 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   2425.1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

   (a) Currently, California is experiencing an access to health care
crisis that, in large measure, is the result of medical group
insolvency, health facility closures, low or no reimbursement rates,
and an increasing number of uninsured.
   (b) Adding to the access to health care crisis is a state
population that is growing in cultural and linguistic diversity as
well as in absolute numbers.
   (c) On paper, California appears to have an adequate number of
physicians in most areas of the state.  California, however, does not
have data indicating the cultural and linguistic background of
licensed physicians, how many physicians are actively practicing
medicine, how many physicians are practicing part time, how many
physicians have retired from practice, or how many physicians have
moved into administrative positions and no longer treat patients.
   (d) In order to fully understand and cope with California's access
to health care crisis, it is necessary to collect data concerning
the status and scope of practice of California's licensed physicians
as well as his or her cultural and linguistic background.
  SEC. 2.  Section 2425.3 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   2425.3.  (a) The Medical Board of California shall request that a
licensed physician report to the board at the time of license renewal
any specialty board certification he or she holds issued by a member
board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or approved by
the Medical Board of California.
   (b) A licensed physician shall also report to the board at the
time of license renewal, his or her practice status, designated as
one of the following:
   (1) Full-time practice in California.
   (2) Full-time practice outside of California.
   (3) Part-time practice in California.
   (4) Medical administrative employment that does not include direct
patient care.
   (5) Retired.
   (6) Other practice status, as may be further defined by the
Division of Licensing.
   (c) A licensed physician may report to the board at the time of
license renewal, and the board shall collect, information regarding
his or her cultural background and foreign language proficiency.
   (d) The information collected pursuant to this section may be
placed on the board's Internet Web site.
   (e) This section shall be implemented on or before July 1, 2003.