BILL NUMBER: SB 2019	CHAPTERED  09/18/02

	CHAPTER  683
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 18, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 17, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 23, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 25, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 9, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 30, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 13, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 11, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 29, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Speier

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2002

   An act to add Section 685 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to student loans, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 2019, Speier.  Health care practitioners:  student loans.
   Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health
care practitioners, as defined.
   This bill would authorize a licensing board or agency having
jurisdiction over a licensee to cite and fine a licensed health care
practitioner who is in default on a United States Department of
Health and Human Services education loan, including a Health
Education Assistance Loan.  The bill would require a board, prior to
issuing a citation, to take into account the population served by the
health care practitioner and his or her economic status.  The bill
would authorize the board to deny a license to an applicant to become
a health care practitioner or deny renewal of a license if he or she
is in default of a loan until the applicant or licensee clears the
default or makes satisfactory repayment arrangements.
   This bill would require that each board that issues citations and
imposes fines retain the money from these fines for deposit into its
appropriate fund.  Because some of these fines would be deposited
into  funds which are continuously appropriated, the bill would make
an appropriation.
   This bill would become operative on July 1, 2003.
   Appropriation:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 685 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   685.  (a) (1) A board may cite and fine a currently licensed
health care practitioner if he or she is in default on a United
States Department of Health and Human Services education loan,
including a Health Education Assistance Loan.
   (2) Each board that issues citations and imposes fines shall
retain the money from these fines for deposit into its appropriate
fund.
   (b) The board may deny a license to an applicant to be a health
care practitioner or deny renewal of a license if he or she is in
default on a United States Department of Health and Human Services
education loan, including a Health Education Assistance Loan, until
the default is cleared or until the applicant or licensee has made
satisfactory repayment arrangements.
   (c) In determining whether to issue a citation and the amount of
the fine to a health care practitioner or to deny a license to an
applicant to be a health care practitioner or to deny the renewal of
a license, a board shall take into consideration the following:
   (1) The population served by the health care practitioner.
   (2) The health care practitioner's economic status.
   (d) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
   (1) "Board" means a licensing board or agency having jurisdiction
of a licensee, but does not include the Board of Chiropractic
Examiners.
   (2) "Health care practitioner" means a person licensed or
certified pursuant to this division or licensed pursuant to the
Osteopathic Initiative Act.
   (e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2003.