BILL NUMBER: AB 161	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
	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 2.6 (commencing with Section 18898) to
Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to athletic
trainers.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 161, 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, 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.,
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.


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

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


   18898.  (a) A person shall not hold himself or herself out to be
an athletic 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., or its predecessors or successors.
   (2) He or she is certified by the Board of Certification, 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," "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."