BILL NUMBER: AB 161	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 17, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Cooley and Gordon)
    (  Coauthors:   Senators  
Anderson   and Nielsen   ) 

                        JANUARY 21, 2015

   An act to add  Chapter 2.7   Chapter 2.6
 (commencing with Section 18898) to Division 8 of the Business
and Professions Code, relating to athletic trainers.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 161, as amended, Chau. Athletic trainers.
   Existing law provides for the regulation of various professions
and vocations, including those of an athlete agent.
   This bill would make it unlawful for any person to hold himself or
herself out as an athletic  trainer or a certified athletic
trainer,   trainer, use the title of, among others,
athletic trainer,  or to use specified terms to imply or suggest
that the person is an athletic trainer, unless he or she is
certified by the Board of Certification, Inc., and has either
graduated from a college or university, after completing an
accredited athletic training education program, as specified, or
completed eligibility requirements for certification by the Board of
Certification, Inc.,  prior to January 1, 2004. 
 as specified.  The bill would make it an unfair business
practice to use the title "athletic trainer," "certified athletic
trainer," or other specified terms that imply or suggest that the
person is an athletic trainer if he or she does not meet the
requirements described above.
   This bill, notwithstanding these provisions, would authorize a
person who has worked as an athletic trainer in California for a
period of 20 consecutive years prior to January 1, 2016, and who is
not otherwise eligible to use the title "athletic trainer," to use
that title.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter  2.7   2.6 
(commencing with Section 18898) is added to Division 8 of the
Business and Professions Code, to read:
      CHAPTER  2.7.   2.6.   ATHLETIC
TRAINERS


   18898.  (a) A person shall not hold himself or herself out to be
an athletic  trainer or a certified athletic trainer, or use
the term   trainer, use the title "athletic trainer,"
"certified athletic trainer," "licensed athletic trainer,"
"registered athletic trainer," or   any other term such as
 "AT," "ATC,"  "LAT,   "  or "CAT" to imply or
suggest that the person is an athletic trainer, unless he or she
meets the following requirements:
   (1) He or she has done either of the following:
   (A) Graduated from a college or university after completing an
athletic training education program accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, or its predecessors or
successors.
   (B) Completed eligibility requirements for certification by the
Board of Certification, Inc.,  prior to January 1, 2004.
  or its predecessors or successors. 
   (2) He or she is certified by the Board of Certification, 
Inc.   Inc., or its predecessors or successors 
 . 
   (b) It is an unfair business practice within the meaning of
Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 for
a person to use the title "athletic trainer," "certified athletic
 trainer" or any other term, such as "certified," "licensed,"
"registered,"   trainer," "licensed athletic trainer,"
"registered athletic trainer," or any other term such as  "AT,"
"ATC,"  "LAT   ,"  or "CAT," that implies or
suggests that the person is an athletic trainer, if he or she does
not meet the requirements of subdivision (a).
   18899.  Notwithstanding Section 18898, a person who has worked as
an athletic trainer in California for a period of 20 consecutive
years prior to January 1, 2016, and who is not otherwise eligible to
use the title "athletic trainer," may use the title "athletic
trainer."