BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  SB 198
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 14, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     SB 198 (Lieu) - As Amended:  August 5, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                             Business,  
          Professions and Consumer Protection           Vote: 13-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill reorganizes and recasts the Physical Therapy Act  
          (Act), eliminates redundant and outdated provisions, updates and  
          clarifies numerous provisions, makes other technical and  
          conforming changes, renumbers various sections within the Act,  
          and extends the sunset date for the Physical Therapy Board until  
          January 1, 2018.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Annual fee-supported special fund costs associated with  
            continued operation of the Board of $3.3 million.

          2)Approximately $100,000 annually for two years (Physical  
            Therapy Fund) for the Physical Therapy Board (Board) to revise  
            regulations.

          3)Potential increased fee revenue of $15,000 annually to the  
            Physical Therapy Fund due to new authority to charge fees to  
            support existing activities related to approving agencies that  
            certify continuing competency courses.  

          4)Potential increased GF revenue in the tens of thousands  
            annually if the Board imposes civil fines for failure to  
            produce requested patient records under new fine authority  
            provided in this bill.

          5)The bill's expanded list of offenses constituting  
            unprofessional conduct increases the likelihood that DOJ will  
            incur costs related to prosecution of proceedings against  
            Board licensees.  Costs are unknown and depend on the number  








                                                                  SB 198
                                                                  Page  2

            and complexity of any proceedings.   The likelihood of  
            significant costs is low.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  .  This comprehensive code cleanup bill is sponsored  
            by the Board and reflects efforts by the Board, stakeholders  
            and the public to clarify, update, and align the Act with best  
            practices.  According to PTB, in response to public and  
            licensee concerns that the Act was complex and difficult to  
            use, PTB established the Physical Therapy Practice Act Review  
            Task Force (Task Force) in 2004.  PTB conducted all business  
            regarding the proposed revisions in a public forum.  This bill  
            is the product of years of work by the Task Force.  

           2)Related legislation  .  SB 305 (Price) extends the sunset of  
            several other regulatory boards from January 1, 2014 to  
            January 1, 2018.  SB 305 is pending in this committee.   

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081