BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Kevin de León, Chair SB 1246 (Lieu) - The Acupuncture Board. Amended: April 23, 2014 Policy Vote: B&P 9-0 Urgency: No Mandate: No Hearing Date: May 12, 2014 Consultant: Brendan McCarthy This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 1246 would extend the statutory sunset of the California Acupuncture Board until January 1, 2016. The bill would also make several changes to the Board's regulatory authority and operations. Fiscal Impact: Ongoing costs of about $3.2 million per year to support the California Acupuncture Board's licensing activities, supported by licensing fees (Acupuncture Fund). Minor reduction in costs and revenues after January 1, 2017 due to the elimination of the Board's authority to approve educational programs (Acupuncture Fund). Unknown increase in licensing costs (and fee revenues) due to increased applications for licensure (Acupuncture Fund). By changing the process for accrediting schools by the Board, it is possible that an increased number of individuals would meet the state's licensing requirement to have graduated from an accredited school. This could increase the number of applicants for licensure. Background: Under current law, the California Acupuncture Board licenses acupuncturists in the state. The board is authorized in law to approve educational and training programs for acupuncture. Proposed Law: SB 1246 would extend the statutory sunset of the California Acupuncture Board until January 1, 2016. In addition, the bill would: Specify that the Board, with the approval of the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, may appoint an SB 1246 (Lieu) Page 1 executive director on January 1, 2015; Specify that the executive director appointed shall not have served as executive director of the Board before January 1, 2015; Extend the Board's authority to approve educational and training programs until January 1, 2017; Repeal the Board's authority to approve education and training programs after January 1, 2017 and instead require educational and training programs to meet specified national accreditation requirements. Staff Comments: SB 1246 is one of several sunset review bills authored by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development. That committee has a policy of periodically reviewing the activities and performance of the licensing boards and bureaus within the Department of Consumer Affairs. As part of that review process, boards and bureaus are reauthorized in statute and any statutory changes the committee finds would improve their activities can be made in those sunset review bills.