BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2190 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 2190 (Salas) As Amended April 5, 2016 Majority vote ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Business & |16-0 |Salas, Brough, Baker, | | |Professions | |Bloom, Campos, | | | | |Chávez, Dahle, Dodd, | | | | |Eggman, Gatto, Gomez, | | | | |Holden, Jones, | | | | |Mullin, Ting, Wood | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Appropriations |20-0 |Gonzalez, Bigelow, | | | | |Bloom, Bonilla, | | | | |Bonta, Calderon, | | | | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | | | | |Gallagher, Eduardo | | | | |Garcia, Roger | | | | |Hernández, Holden, | | | | |Jones, Obernolte, | | | | |Quirk, Santiago, | | | | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | AB 2190 Page 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY: Extends the operation of the California Acupuncture Board (CAB) and the CAB's authority to appoint an executive officer until January 1, 2019. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, cost of approximately $3.5 million per year, for calendar years 2017 and 2018, to continue the operation of the CAB beyond the current January 1, 2017 sunset (Acupuncture Fund). COMMENTS: Purpose. Unless legislation is carried this year to extend the sunset date for the CAB, it will be repealed on January 1, 2017. Because the CAB has shown improvement during its sunset review hearing held on March 14, 2016, this bill will extend the CAB's sunset date and authority to appoint an executive officer. Background. The CAB regulates the practice of acupuncture and Asian medicine in California. According to the CAB's most recent sunset review report, it regulates 17,801 acupuncturists, 11,644 of which are actively practicing in the state. The primary responsibility of the CAB is to protect California consumers from incompetent, and/or fraudulent practice through the enforcement of the Acupuncture Licensure Act and the CAB's regulations. Its responsibilities include setting licensure requirements for acupuncturists, developing and administering the licensure exam, issuing and renewing licenses, overseeing the investigation of complaints against licensees or allegations of unlicensed activity, overseeing the continuing education (CE) AB 2190 Page 3 program and monitoring probationer acupuncturists. Continued Regulation of Acupuncturists by the CAB. While the CAB has had issues in the past, the current CAB is newly formed and committee staff has observed improvements in the CAB's operations since its last sunset review in 2014. The CAB has responded to the request to promulgate consumer protection regulations, has improved in processing time for applications, has made strides to improve CE oversight, and has made changes to staff and management. Therefore, this bill will extend the CAB's sunset date to January 1, 2019. Analysis Prepared by: Vincent Chee / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301 FN: 0003158