BILL NUMBER: AB 890	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 7.75 (commencing with Section 3550) to
Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing
arts.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 890, as amended, Ridley-Thomas. Anesthesiologist assistants.
   Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of
specified healing arts licensees, including, among others, physicians
and surgeons, physician assistants, nurses, and nurse anesthetists.
   This bill would enact the Anesthesiologist Assistant Practice Act,
which would make it unlawful for any person to hold himself or
herself out as an anesthesiologist assistant unless he or she meets
specified requirements. The bill would make it an unfair business
practice to violate these provisions. The bill would require an
anesthesiologist assistant to work under the  direction and
 supervision of an anesthesiologist, and would require the
anesthesiologist to be physically present on the premises and 
immediately  available  if needed  to the
anesthesiologist assistant when medical services are being rendered
and to oversee the activities of, and accept responsibility for, the
medical services being rendered by the anesthesiologist assistant.
The bill would authorize an anesthesiologist assistant  under the
supervision of an anesthesiologist  to  assist the
supervising anesthesiologist in   deliver medical
services, including, but not limited to,  developing and
implementing an anesthesia care plan for a patient.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 7.75 (commencing with Section 3550) is added to
Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 7.75.  ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT


   3550.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
Anesthesiologist Assistant Practice Act.
   3551.  For purposes of this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
   (a) "Anesthesiologist" means a physician and surgeon who has
 completed a residency in anesthesiology approved by the
American Board of Anesthesiology or the American Osteopathic Board of
Anesthesiology   successfully   completed a
training program in anesthesiology accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic
Association or equivalent organizations  and is licensed under
Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000).
   (b) "Anesthesiologist assistant" means a person who meets the
requirements of Section 3552.
   3552.  (a) A person shall not hold himself or herself out to be an
anesthesiologist assistant unless he or she meets the following
requirements:
   (1) Has graduated from an anesthesiologist assistant program
recognized by the  American Medical Association's Committee
on Allied Health Education and Accreditation  
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
or by its successor agency.
   (2)  Has passed the certifying examination and holds
  Holds    an active certification by the
National Commission on Certification  of   for
 Anesthesiologist Assistants.
   (b) It is an unfair business practice within the meaning of
Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 for
any person to use the title "anesthesiologist assistant" or any
other term, including, but not limited to, "certified," "licensed,"
"registered," or "AA," that implies or suggests that the person is
certified as an anesthesiologist assistant, if the person does not
meet the requirements of subdivision (a).
   3553.  An anesthesiologist assistant shall work under the 
direction and  supervision of an anesthesiologist. The
supervising anesthesiologist shall do both of the following:
   (a) Be physically present on the premises and  immediately
 available  if needed  to the anesthesiologist
assistant when medical services are being rendered.
   (b) Oversee the activities of, and accept responsibility for, the
medical services being rendered by the anesthesiologist assistant.
   3554.  Notwithstanding any other law, an anesthesiologist
assistant  under the supervision of an anesthesiologist  may
 assist the supervising anesthesiologist in  
deliver medical services, including, but not limited to, 
developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan for a patient.