BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     SB 531  


                                                                    Page  1





          Date of Hearing:  July 8, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          SB 531  
          (Bates) - As Amended June 25, 2015


           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Policy       |Business and Professions       |Vote:|14 - 0       |
          |Committee:   |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 


          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill makes minor changes to the enforcement authority of  
          the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).  Specifically, this bill  
          allows BBS to: 









                                                                     SB 531  


                                                                    Page  2






          1)Deny, without a hearing, a request to petition for termination  
            of probation or a modification of penalty, for specified  
            reasons.



          2)Continue disciplinary proceedings regardless of a change in a  
            licensee's licensure status.  
          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Minor and absorbable costs to the BBS (Behavioral Science  
          Examiners Fund).


          COMMENTS:


          Purpose. According to the author, the goal of the proposed  
          changes is to streamline the BBS's enforcement process. The  
          first change outlines criteria under which the BBS may deny a  
          petition without a hearing. This includes circumstances where  
          the petitioner is not in compliance with his or her probation,  
          or has had a subsequent arrest while on probation. 


          The second change ensures BBS is able to follow through with  
          disciplinary cases and conduct investigations, regardless if the  
          license or registration status of a mental health professional  
          has changed or expired, ensuring the accountability of all  
          licensees and registrants.  This bill is sponsored by the BBS.  
           


          Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081










                                                                     SB 531  


                                                                    Page  3