BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2435
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2435 (Lowenthal) - As Amended: March 24, 2010
Policy Committee: Business &
Professions Vote: 11-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires specified professionals to complete training
regarding elder and dependent adult abuse. The professionals
required to complete the training include marriage and family
therapists, educational psychologists, clinical social workers
and professional clinical counselors.
FISCAL EFFECT
No direct fiscal impact to the Board of Behavioral Sciences to
continue oversight of professional training and education. This
bill codifies current practice and adds specificity to current
law training requirements.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill is co-sponsored by the California
Commission on Aging and the Congress of California Seniors to
increase the training emphasis of various professionals and to
increase the awareness about a range of abuse recognition and
reporting.
Elder abuse includes physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse,
abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other treatment that
results in physical harm, pain, or mental suffering. Under
current law, health care professionals, clergy, certain county
employees, and law enforcement officers are mandated
reporters. In addition, many of the professionals addressed by
this bill currently receive training and clinical experience
regarding elder and dependent adult abuse.
AB 2435
Page 2
2)Related Legislation . SB 953 (Vasconcellos), Chapter 541,
Statutes of 2001 requires an applicant for licensure as a
psychologist, social worker, or marriage and family therapist,
or for renewal of a license to complete specified educational
requirements regarding aging and long-term care.
Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081