BILL NUMBER: AB 1943	CHAPTERED  09/22/02

	CHAPTER  781
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 22, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 21, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 28, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 26, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 5, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 17, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 29, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 15, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chu
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Alquist, Cardenas, Chan, Diaz,
Firebaugh, Frommer, Havice, Keeley, Koretz, Maddox, Migden, Mountjoy,
Robert Pacheco, Pavley, Shelley, Strom-Martin, and Wyman)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Burton, Karnette, Kuehl, Romero, and Scott)

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2002

   An act to amend Section 4939 of the Business and Professions Code,
relating to healing arts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1943, Chu.  Acupuncture.
   Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, regulates the
practice and licensure of acupuncture and establishes the Acupuncture
Board to enforce and administer these provisions.
   Existing provisions of the act require the board to establish
standards for the approval of schools and colleges offering education
and training in the practice of an acupuncturist.
   This bill would require that those standards include a minimum of
3,000 hours of study in curriculum pertaining to the practice of an
acupuncturist and would require that the revised standards be
established by the board on or before January 1, 2004.  The bill
would provide that the standards would apply to all students entering
programs on or after January 1, 2005.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature, if SB 1951
of the Statutes of 2002 is passed, to consider for implementation
recommendations to increase curriculum hours for the licensure of
acupuncturists in excess of 3,000 hours up to 4,000 hours.  The bill
would also declare the intent of the Legislature that the commission
provide recommendations for reviewing the competence of certain
licensed acupuncturists and recommendations for training, testing, or
continuing education of those acupuncturists.


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


  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature:
   (a) In the event that Senate Bill 1951 is enacted in the Statutes
of 2002, to consider for implementation the recommendations of the
Milton Marks "Little Hoover" Commission on California State
Government Organization and Economy to increase curriculum hours for
the licensure of acupuncturists in excess of 3,000 hours up to 4,000
hours to fully and effectively provide health services under their
scope of practice.
   (b) That the commission shall provide recommendations for
reviewing the competence of licensed acupuncturists who are not
subject to the 3,000 hour minimum curriculum requirement, and shall
provide recommendations for training, testing, or continuing
education that would be required for these individuals to meet the
standards for continued licensure.
  SEC. 2.  Section 4939 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   4939.  (a) On or before January 1, 2004, the board shall establish
standards for the approval of schools and colleges offering
education and training in the practice of  an acupuncturist,
including standards for the faculty in those schools and colleges and
tutorial programs, completion of which will satisfy the requirements
of Section 4938.
   (b) Standards for the approval of training programs shall include
a minimum of 3,000 hours of study in curriculum pertaining to the
practice of an acupuncturist.  This subdivision shall apply to all
students entering programs on or after January 1, 2005.
   (c) Within three years of initial approval by the board, each
program so approved by the board shall receive full institutional
approval under Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 94760) of Chapter
7 of Part 59 of the Education Code in the field of traditional
oriental medicine, or in the case of institutions located outside of
this state, approval by the appropriate governmental educational
authority using standards equivalent to those of Article 3.5
(commencing with Section 94760) of Chapter 7 of Part 59 of the
Education Code, or the board's approval of the program shall
automatically lapse.