BILL ANALYSIS
AB 138
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Date of Hearing: May 7, 2003
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Darrell Steinberg, Chair
AB 138 (Lowenthal) - As Amended: April 10, 2003
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 13-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill exempts out-of-state physicians from California
physician licensing requirements when the physician is traveling
with a sports team. Specifically, this bill:
1)Exempts from licensure a physician who is licensed to practice
medicine in another state or country if both of the following
conditions are met:
a) The physician has an oral or written agreement with a
sports team to provide general or emergency medical care to
the team members, coaching staff, and families traveling
with the team for a specific sporting event to take place
in California; and
b) The physician may not provide care or consultation to
any person residing in this state, other than a person
described in a) above, except in an emergency.
2)Requires the licensure exemption to remain in force while the
physician is traveling with the team, but no longer than 10
days per individual sporting event.
3)Permits the executive director of the Medical Board of
California (MBC) to grant a physician additional time for the
exemption, up to 20 additional days per sporting event, upon
prior request by the physician, but caps the total number of
days a physician can be exempt, including additional time
granted upon request, at 30 days per sporting event.
4)Prohibits a physician who is exempt from licensure
AB 138
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requirements under this bill from being authorized to practice
medicine at a health care clinic or facility, including an
acute care facility.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor, absorbable costs to the Medical Board of California to
comply with the requirements of this bill. MBC operating costs
are funded from physician licensing fees deposited in the
Medical Board Contingency Fund.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill is sponsored by the Medical Board of
California to allow out-of-state sports physicians to provide
general and emergency care to team members while attending
sporting events in California. Under this bill, their
practice would be limited to a specific event and time frame.
2)Background . The Medical Practice Act makes it unlawful for
any person to practice medicine without having a license.
This bill would allow an exemption from licensure for team
physicians of traveling sports teams. For example, one
practical effect of this bill would be to allow the
Championship Auto Racing Team (CART), which participates in
the Long Beach Grand Prix each year, to use their own
physicians who are trained to deal with injuries from car
racing.
Analysis Prepared by : Scott Bain / APPR. / (916) 319-2081