BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1236 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 8, 2012 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair SB 1236 (Price) - As Amended: June 18, 2012 Policy Committee: Business and Professions Vote: 9-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill extends the sunset dates for, and implements numerous recommendations that emerged from the legislative sunset review of, the Board of Podiatric Medicine (BDM) and the Physician Assistant Committee (PAC). Provisions related to the BPM include: 1)Extending the sunset date from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2017. 2)Allowing the BPM to increase costs assessed to licensees found guilty of unprofessional conduct, not to exceed the actual and reasonable costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case, if the BPM does not adopt the decision of the administrative law judge and finds grounds for increasing the costs to be assessed. 3)Repealing an obsolete provision prohibiting Doctors of Podiatric Medicine from performing an admitting exam at hospitals 4)Several other clarifying and minor provisions. Provisions related to the PAC include: 1)Extending the sunset date from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2017. 2)Changing the name of the Physician Assistant Committee to the Physician Assistant Board, and conforming changes. Retains the Physician Assistant Board within the jurisdiction of the Medical Board. 3)Applying a number of standard licensure-related and administrative provisions that currently apply to other SB 1236 Page 2 healing arts boards, to the Physician Assistant Board. 4)Modifying the composition of the Physician Assistant Board (previously Committee). 5)Authorizing the Physician Assistant Board to establish, by regulation, a system for the placement of a license on a retired status. 6)Allowing the Board to proceed with investigation or disciplinary action regardless of an expired, cancelled, surrendered, or otherwise inactive licensure status. FISCAL EFFECT 1)Annual fee-supported special fund costs associated with continued operation of the following regulatory entities, as follows: a) BPM, of $1 million annually, until January 1, 2017. b) Physician Assistant Committee, of $1.2 million annually, until January 1, 2017. 1)Minor potential increased revenue that would offset the BPM's costs of investigation and prosecution of disciplinary cases. 2)Potential minor regulatory and IT costs to the Physician Assistant Board if it promulgates regulations to establish a retired licensure status. Any increased costs would be covered by fee revenues. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . This bill extends to January 1, 2017, the provisions establishing the California BPM and the PAC, and makes other changes that emerged from legislative sunset review hearings. 2)Background . The BPM licenses and regulates doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs), also called podiatrists. Podiatrists diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. They can specialize in areas such as sports medicine, surgery, biomechanics, and diabetic foot care, among others. About 2,000 podiatric medical doctors are licensed in California. The PAC within the Medical Board of California (MBC) regulates SB 1236 Page 3 about 8,000 physician assistants. PAs perform a broad array of primary medical care activities under the supervision of a physician. PA licensure was created in 1975 to address a shortage and geographic maldistribution of health care services in California. The PAC has a cooperative relationship with the MBC, and relies on the MBC for investigative and other services. 3)Related Legislation . Other sunset bills being heard in committee today include SB 1237 (Price), which relates to the Board of Pharmacy and the Court Reporters Board, among others; SB 1238 (Price), which relates to the Board of Behavioral Sciences and the Board of Psychology; and SB 1239 (Price), which relates to the Acupuncture Board. Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081