BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AB 178


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          Date of Hearing:  May 20, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          AB  
          178 (Bonilla) - As Amended May 4, 2015


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          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


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          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


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          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


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          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