BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 178 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 178 (Bonilla) - As Amended May 4, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|14 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This urgency bill contains provisions related to the Dental Board of California (DBC) and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT). AB 178 Page 2 DBC Provisions: 1)Eliminates the practical examination for licensure as a registered dental assistant. 2)Requires the DBC to review the necessity of a practical examination. 3)Authorizes the board to administer and require a practical examination for licensure as a registered dental assistant upon making specified findings. 4)Modifies eligibility for registered dental assistant licensure. BVNPT Provisions: 1)Removes the requirement that the executive officer of the BVNPT be a licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse, or psychiatric technician. 2)Requires the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to appoint an enforcement program monitor no later than October 1, 2015, and specifies related reporting requirements. 3)Requires the DCA's internal audit unit to review the BVNPT's staffing resources needs and requirements. FISCAL EFFECT: AB 178 Page 3 Costs of $350,000 (Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians Fund) over two years for an enforcement program monitor. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. This bill addresses urgent issues that emerged from the Business and Professions Committee's sunset review process of the affected boards. 2)Dental Provisions. After the DBC recalibrated the practical examination for registered dental assistants last August, there was an alarming decline in passage rates. In addition to the human costs of placing undue hardship on examinees who are now unable to find work, or have lost work due to failing the exam, and the impact on our healthcare workforce, the steep decline questions the validity of the examination and its ability to accurately measure a licensee's competency. This bill establishes a moratorium on the practical exam until it is evaluated, allowing licensure of professionals who meet all other requirements. 3)BVNPT Provisions. According to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee Sunset Review Report, the BVNPT has shown deficiencies and discrepancies in the areas of enforcement and management of funds. Due to these continuing problems, as well as potential issues concerning the management and operations of the Board, the report concludes, it appears that this Board requires additional oversight and direction. This bill requires the appointment of an enforcement monitor and closer oversight by DCA. AB 178 Page 4 4)Related Legislation. AB 177, AB 178, AB 180, and AB 181, all authored by the Committee on Business and Professions, contain sunset review provisions for other boards and bureaus. AB 179 and this bill are related; AB 179 also contains provisions related to DBC and BVNPT, including sunset extensions for both boards. Certain provisions from AB 179 were amended in to this bill to take effect immediately. Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081