BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2193
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
2193 (Salas)
As Amended April 5, 2016
Majority vote
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|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 2193
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SUMMARY: Extends the operation of the Board of Podiatric
Medicine (BPM), the operation of the Physician Assistant Board
(PAB), and the PAB's authority to appoint an executive officer
until January 1, 2021.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Cost of approximately $1.5 million per year, for four
additional calendar years, to continue the operation of the
BPM beyond the current January 1, 2017 sunset (Board of
Podiatric Medicine Fund).
2)Cost of approximately $1.6 million per year, for four
additional calendar years, to continue the operation of the
PAB beyond the current January 1, 2017 sunset (Physician
Assistant Fund).
COMMENTS:
Purpose. Unless legislation is carried this year to extend the
sunset dates for the BPM and the PAB, they will be repealed on
January 1, 2017. The legislative changes reflected in this bill
are solutions to issues raised in the Assembly Committee on
Business and Professions' staff Background Paper and during the
sunset review hearing held on March 9, 2016. In addition, this
bill will extend the BPM and PAB's authority to appoint an
executive officer.
Background. In March of 2016, the Senate Business and
AB 2193
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Professions Committee and the Assembly Business and Professions
Committee (Committees) conducted several joint oversight
hearings to review 11 regulatory entities, including the BPM and
the PAB. This bill and the accompanying sunset bills are
intended to implement legislative changes as recommended by the
committee staff Background Papers prepared for each entity
reviewed.
Continued Regulation of Physician Assistants by the PAB. The
PAB is one of the several licensing entities under the
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). The PAB licenses and
regulates physician assistants (PAs). PAs provide health care
services under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. PA
functions include performing diagnostic, therapeutic,
preventive, and health maintenance services. Currently, the PAB
has over 10,000 licensed PAs. The PAB was last reviewed by the
Committees in 2012.
Since its last review, the PAB has shown a commitment to improve
its overall efficiency and effectiveness, and has worked
cooperatively with the Legislature and the Committees to bring
about necessary changes. Therefore, this bill extends the
sunset date of the PAB for four years so that the Legislature
may once again review whether the issues and recommendations the
Background Paper addressed.
Continued Regulation of Doctors of Podiatric Medicine by the
BPM. The BPM is also one of several licensing entities under
the DCA. The BPM licenses and regulates doctors of podiatric
medicine (DPMs). In the Medical Practice Act, a license to
practice podiatric medicine is called a "certificate," but it is
indistinguishable from other professional licenses. It is a
misdemeanor to practice podiatric medicine or use the title DPM,
podiatrist, or similar designation without a license.
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The Practice Act defines "podiatric medicine" as all medical
treatment of the foot, ankle, and tendons that insert into the
foot, including diagnosis, surgery, and the nonsurgical
treatment of the muscles and tendons of the leg governing the
functions of the foot. Therefore, a DPM's scope of practice is
similar to that of a physician and surgeon who specializes in
the foot and ankle. However, unlike a physician and surgeon,
whose scope is only limited by the licensee's own area of
competence, a DPM's scope is limited by the license to the foot
and ankle.
The BPM licenses approximately 2,000 DPMs. On average, it
issues 106 licenses each year and renews on average 1,106
licenses each year.
Since its last review, the BPM has also shown a commitment to
its mission and a willingness to work with the Legislature to
improve consumer protection. Therefore, this bill extends the
BPM sunset date to January 1, 2021 so that the Legislature may
once again review whether the issues and recommendations the
Background Paper addressed.
Analysis Prepared by:
Vincent Chee / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301 FN:
0003152
AB 2193
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