BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1193
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB
1193 (Hill)
As Amended August 18, 2016
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 39-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+-----------------------+---------------------|
|Business & |13-0 |Salas, Bloom, Campos, | |
|Professions | |Chávez, Dahle, Dodd, | |
| | |Eggman, Gatto, Gomez, | |
| | |Holden, Mullin, Ting, | |
| | |Wood | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+-----------------------+---------------------|
|Appropriations |15-0 |Gonzalez, Bloom, | |
| | |Bonilla, Bonta, | |
| | |Calderon, Daly, | |
| | |Eggman, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Holden, | |
| | |Obernolte, Quirk, | |
| | |Santiago, Weber, Wood, | |
| | |McCarty | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
SB 1193
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SUMMARY: Extends the sunset date for the Board of Psychology
(BOPsych) by four years, until January 1, 2021; amends statutes
pertaining to psychological assistants (PA); revises continuing
education (CE) requirements; establishes policies for posting
licensee information on the BOPsych's Web site; authorizes the
BOPsych to issue a retired license; revises the requirements
related to approved schools; and makes other technical,
clarifying and conforming changes to the BOPsych and the
psychology practice act (act). Extends the operation of the
Board of Pharmacy (BOPharm) and Pharmacy Law until January 1,
2021, and makes various changes to the Pharmacy Law intended to
improve BOPharm oversight of licensees involved in the
acquisition, storage, distribution and dispensing of dangerous
drugs and dangerous devices, including oversight by the BOPharm
for outsourcing facilities; registration with the BOPharm for
use of an automated delivery device by a pharmacy; timeline
requirements for the BOPharm to approve clinic licenses; and
various other technical changes. This bill also makes various
changes that are intended to improve the effectiveness of the
Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) and extends the VMB's sunset
dates, until January 1, 2021. Specifically, this bill:
1)Revises employment restrictions for PAs, as specified.
2)Clarifies that PAs are required to register themselves with
the BOPsych, and the registration must be renewed annually in
accordance with BOPsych regulations, as specified.
3)Deletes the provision allowing a licensed psychologist to
register, employ or supervise more than three psychological
assistants at a time with specific authorization from the
BOPsych.
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4)Requires on or after January 1, 2020, that an applicant for
licensure as a psychologist possess an earned doctorate degree
in psychology, in educational psychology or in education with
the field of specialization in counseling psychology or
educational psychology from a college or institution of higher
education that is accredited by a regional accrediting agency
recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE)
and authorizes the BOPsych to accept only until January 1,
2020, an applicant who possesses a doctorate degree in
psychology, educational psychology, or in education with the
field of specialization in counseling psychology or
educational psychology from an institution that is not
accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the USDE but
is approved to operate by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary
Education (BPPE).
5)Specifies that 4) above, does not apply to any student who has
enrolled in a doctoral program in psychology, educational
psychology, or in education with the field of specializing in
counseling psychology or educational psychology at a
nationally accredited or approved institution as of December
31, 2016.
6)Changes references to CE to continuing professional
development (CPD).
7)Requires applicants for licensure renewal to submit under
penalty of perjury that he or she is in compliance with
specified CPD requirements.
8)Specifies that CPD means certain continuing education learning
activities approved in the following four categories: a)
professional; b) academic; c) sponsored continuing education
coursework; and, d) Board certification from the American
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Board of Professional Psychology, and authorizes the BOPsych
to develop regulations further defining acceptable CPD.
9)Authorizes the BOPsych to develop regulations further defining
CPD activities.
10)Deletes the exemption from CE requirements for a licensed
psychologist whose practice does not include the direct
provision of mental health services.
11)Deletes the requirement that CE instruction be completed in
California or be approved for credit by the American
Psychological Association or its equivalent and instead
specifies that courses must be approved for credit by
organizations approved by the BOPsych, and those organizations
previously approved by the BOPsych to provide CE is deemed
approved, as specified.
12)Revises the BOPsych's authority to accept CE courses from
certain entities.
13)Deletes the requirement that a licensed psychologist must
choose CE instruction that is related to the assessment,
diagnosis, and intervention for the client population that is
being served or to the fields of psychology in which the
psychologist intends to provide services, as specified.
14)Authorizes the BOPsych to grant an exemption or an extension
of the time for compliance with, from CPD, as specified.
15)Deletes the authorization for CE credit to be approved for
licensees who serve as commissioners on any examination.
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16)Extends the sunset date for the BOPsych by four years, until
January 1, 2021.
17)Authorizes the BOPsych to post on its Internet Web site the
following information on the current status of the license for
all current and former licensees:
a) Whether or not the license has a record of disciplinary
action; and,
b) Any of the following enforcement actions or proceedings:
i) Temporary restraining orders;
ii)Interim suspension orders;
iii)Revocations, suspensions, probations, or limitations on
practice ordered by the BOP or by a court with
jurisdiction in the state, including those made part of a
probationary order, cease practice order or stipulated
agreement;
iv)Accusations filed by the BOPsych including those
accusations that are on appeal, excluding ones that have
been dismissed or withdrawn where the action is no longer
pending; and,
v) Citations issued by the BOPsych, unless withdrawn,
posted for five years from the date of issuance.
18)Authorizes the BOPsych to post on its Internet Web site all
of the following historical information in its possession,
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custody, or control regarding all current and former
licensees:
a) Institutions that awarded the qualifying educational
degree and type of degree awarded; and,
b) A link to the licensee's professional Web site, and
specifies that any link to a professional licensee's
professional Web site, once clicked, must be accompanied by
a notification that informs the Web site viewer that they
are no longer on the BOPsych's Internet Web site..
19)Permits the BOPsych to post other information as determined
through regulation.
20)Deletes the section on appointment of commissioners on
examinations, as specified.
21)Permits the BOPsych to issue a retired license, as specified.
22)Authorizes the holder of a retired license to return to
active status if specified conditions are met including, the
retired license not being issued more than three years for the
date of return to active status; not committed acts or crimes
constituting grounds for denial; paying the renewal fee;
completing CPD, and complying with fingerprint submission
requirements.
23)Authorizes the holder of a retired license to return to
active status if the retired license was issued three or more
years from the application date if specified conditions are
met including, completing an application packet, taking and
passing the California Psychology Law and Ethics Examination;
paying all fees; complying with fingerprint submission
requirements, having met educational and experience
requirements, as specified, and establishing that he or she
has not been subject to denial or discipline of a license.
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24)Extends the operation of the BOPharm and its Executive
Officer (EO) until January 1, 2021.
25)Requires, beginning July 1, 2017, each pharmacist, intern
pharmacist, pharmacy technician, designated representative-3PL
licensed in this state to join the BOPharm's email
notification list within 60 days of obtaining a license or at
the time of license renewal; requires him or her to update his
or her email address with the BOPharm's email notification
list within 30 days of a change in the licensee's email
address; exempts this email address from being posted on the
board's online license verification system; and requires the
BOPharm, with each renewal application, to remind licensees of
this obligation.
26)Requires the BOPharm to take action against any holder of a
license who is guilty of unprofessional conduct, including
among others, actions that lead to the revocation, suspension,
or other discipline by another state of a license to practice
pharmacy, operate a pharmacy, or do any other act for which a
license is required, and specifies that the administrative
action taken in this state is coterminous with action taken by
another state, except as specified.
27)Defines "outsourcing facility" as a facility that is located
within the United States at one address that is engaged in the
compounding of sterile and nonsterile drugs; has registered
with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); is doing business
within or into California; and, is licensed with the BOPharm.
28)Requires a pharmacy using an automated drug delivery system
(ADD) to register use of the ADD with the BOPharm within 30
days of installation of the device, and annually thereafter,
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including the address at which the ADD is being used; and,
requires a pharmacy to advise the BOPharm within 30 days if
the pharmacy discontinues the use of an ADD.
29)Allows a pharmacy to use an ADD only if the pharmacy uses the
ADD consistent with legal requirements; the pharmacy's
policies and procedures related to the ADD include appropriate
security and monitoring measures; the pharmacy reports drug
losses as required by law; and, the pharmacy license is
unexpired and not subject to disciplinary action. Exempts
from registration with the BOPharm an ADD operated by a
licensed hospital pharmacy for doses administered in a
facility operated under a consolidated license.
30)Authorizes the BOPharm to prohibit a pharmacy from using an
ADD if specified conditions are not met; requires the BOPharm
to give the pharmacy written notice explaining the basis for
the determination; and allows the pharmacy to appeal the
decision within 30 days.
31)Requires a pharmacy that issues a recall notice regarding a
nonsterile compounded drug product to contact the recipient
pharmacy, prescriber, or patient (as applicable) and the
BOPharm within 12 hours of the recall notice if both the use
or exposure to the recalled drug may cause serious adverse
health consequence or death, and if the recalled drug was
dispensed or intended for use in this state.
32)Requires a pharmacy to report to MedWatch within 72 hours if
the pharmacy has been advised that a patient has been harmed
by using a nonsterile compounded product potentially
attributable to the pharmacy.
33)Requires outsourcing facilities, as defined under federal
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law, to be licensed by the BOPharm; prohibits an outsourcing
facility to be simultaneously licensed with the BOPharm as a
sterile compounding pharmacy at the same location; prohibits a
licensed outsourcing facility from filling patient specific
prescriptions; requires an outsourcing facility to notify the
BOPharm of any disciplinary or other action taken by another
state or the FDA or of any recall notices or any adverse
events potentially attributable to an outsourcing facility's
products; requires the BOPharm to inspect the location of a
nonresident outsourcing facility to ensure that the facility
is in compliance with all laws and regulations before issuing
or renewing a nonresident outsourcing facility's license; and,
authorizes the BOPharm to issue a cease and desist order to an
outsourcing facility if the BOPharm has reasonable belief that
the products produced by the facility poses an immediate
threat to the public health or safety.
34)Establishes a fee for the issuance of an in-state outsourcing
facility license fee of $2,270 that may be increased to up to
$3,180 by the BOPharm; establishes a renewal fee of $1,325
that may be increased to up to $1,855 by the BOPharm.
35)Establishes a fee for the issuance of a nonresident
outsourcing facility license of $2,380 that may be increased
to up to $3,335 by the BOPharm; establishes the fee for the
renewal of a nonresident outsourcing facility license of
$2,270 that may be increased to up to $3,180 by the BOPharm,
as specified.
36)Includes pharmacists in the list of licensed professionals
authorized to establish a professional corporation.
37)Extends the sunset date for the VMB and its executive officer
until January 1, 2021.
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38)Authorizes a veterinarian and Registered Veterinary
Technician (RVT), who is under the director supervision of a
veterinarian with a current and active license, to compound a
drug for anesthesia, the prevention, cure, or relief of a
wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease of an animal in a
premises currently and actively registered with the VMB, as
specified, and would authorize the BOPharm and the VMB to
ensure compliance with these requirements.
39)Requires veterinarians engaged in the practice of veterinary
medicine and employed by the University of California or by
Western University of Health Sciences, while engaged in the
performance of specific duties, to be licensed as a
veterinarians in the state or hold a university license issued
by the VMB, and that the applicant for a university license to
meet certain requirements, including that the applicant passes
a specified exam.
40)Provides that a veterinary premise registration may be
canceled after five years of delinquency, unless the VMB finds
circumstances or conditions that would justify a new premise
registration to be issued.
41)Makes technical changes to the BPC regarding the BOPsych,
BOPharm and the VMB.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, the provisions of this bill related to the BOPsych
will result in:
1)Approximately $5 million (fee-supported Psychology Fund) per
year to continue operation of the BOPsych for an additional
four years.
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2)Minor and absorbable costs to issue regulations to implement a
retired license type, and to make necessary information
technology changes (Psychology Fund).
3)Unknown, likely minor, ongoing revenue loss to the Psychology
Fund, as well as reduced administrative workload, to the
extent some individuals apply for a retired license ($75
one-time fee and application) instead of an inactive license
($50 every two years).
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the
provisions of this bill related to the BOPharm (All costs are
fee-supported - Pharmacy Board Contingent Fund) will result in:
1)Ongoing costs of $20.1 million per year for the continued
operation of the BOPharm.
2)One-time costs of $335,000 and ongoing costs of $320,000 per
year, for licensing and inspection activities relating to
outsourcing facilities. The BOPharm also estimates $288,000
in revenue from an outsourcing facilities fee authorized by
this bill in the first year, and $244,000 annually in the
second year. Costs related to other provisions, including
information technology costs, are expected to be minor and
absorbable.
According to the August 11, 2016, Assembly Appropriations
Committee, the provisions of this bill related to the VMB
provisions (All costs are fee-supported-Veterinary Medical Board
Contingent Fund), this bill will result in:
1)Ongoing costs of about $5.0 million per year for the continued
operation of the VMB. All costs to operate the VMB are funded
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with licensing fees.
2)Costs related to VMB-related provisions are anticipated to be
minor and absorbable.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the author, and is one of
five "sunset bills" the author is sponsoring this year.
According to the author, this bill is necessary to make changes
to the Pharmacy Law and Veterinary Practice Act in order to
strengthen the laws to improve [BOPharm] and VMB oversight of
licensees.
Background. Joint Oversight Hearings and Sunset Review of the
DCA Licensing Boards. In March of 2016, the Assembly Committee
on Business and Professions and the Senate Committee on
Business, Professions and Economic Development (Committees)
conducted multiple joint oversight hearings to review 11
regulatory boards within the DCA and one regulatory entity
outside of the DCA. The sunset bills are intended to implement
legislative changes recommended in the respective background
reports drafted by the Committee staff for the agencies reviewed
this year.
Board of Psychology. The BOPsych regulates licensed
psychologists, registered PAs, and registered psychologists.
Only licensed psychologists can practice psychology
independently in the private sector in California. In order to
be a licensed psychologist, an individual must obtain a
doctorate degree in psychology, educational psychology, or
education within the field of specialization in counseling
psychology or educational psychology from an accredited or
approved institution, and have completed two years (3,000) hours
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of supervised professional experience, where at least 1,500 of
those hours be completed post-doctoral. PAs are registered to a
licensed psychologist or to a board-certified psychiatrist as
employees who provide limited psychological services. Those
registered psychologists are registered with the BOPsych and
work and train under supervision in non-profit agencies that
receive government funding. PAs are employed and supervised by
a qualified licensed psychologist as employees who may provide
limited services. PAs are required to have a master's degree,
but no specified experience requirements.
Joint Oversight Hearings and Sunset Review of DCA Licensing
Boards. In March of 2016, the Assembly Business and Professions
Committee and the Senate Business, Professions and Economic
Development Committee (Committees) conducted multiple joint
oversight hearings to review 11 regulatory boards within the DCA
and one regulatory entity outside of the DCA. The sunset bills
are intended to implement legislative changes recommended in the
respective background reports drafted by the Committee staff for
the agencies reviewed this year.
The Sunset Review Process. The sunset review process provides a
formal mechanism for the DCA, the Legislature, the regulatory
boards, bureaus and committees, interested parties, and
stakeholders to make recommendations for improvements to the
authority of consumer protection boards and bureaus. This is
performed on a standard four-year cycle and was mandated by SB
2036 (McCorquodale), Chapter 908, Statutes of 1994. Each
eligible agency is required to submit to the Committees a report
covering the entire period since last reviewed that includes,
among other things, the purpose and necessity of the agency and
any recommendations of the agency for changes or reorganization
in order to better fulfill its purpose. During the sunset
review hearings, the Committees take public testimony and
evaluate the eligible agency prior to the date the agency is
scheduled to be repealed. An eligible agency is allowed to
sunset unless the Legislature enacts a law to extend,
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consolidate, or reorganize the eligible agency.
The BOPsych was last reviewed in 2011 and received a four-year
sunset extension at that time The legislation pertaining to
this bill is based on specific issues raised and addressed in
the report released by the Senate Committee on Business and
Professions along with the sunset review hearing on March 14,
2016.
Approved Schools and National Accreditation. California is the
only state that allows students from unaccredited schools to sit
for psychology licensing examinations. Current law requires the
BOPsych to accept doctoral degrees in psychology from either
accredited or approved institutions. An institution is deemed
approved if it is not a franchise, was approved by the former
Bureau of Private Postsecondary Vocational Education on or
before 1999, and has not moved to a new location since 1999.
There are six schools meeting these criteria, with approvals and
oversight conducted solely by the BPPE. This issue was raised
during the previous review of the BOPsych. At that time, the
BOPsych noted that it was concerned that there is little quality
control over the schools' operations or curriculum and students
have a low pass rate on the national exam, among other issues.
At that time, the BOPsych stated that the students from these
schools should not be eligible for licensure and expressed their
preference for a change in law to prohibit applicants from
approved schools. The law was not changed during the previous
sunset review.
In an effort to increase the quality of educational programs in
California, the California Private Postsecondary Education Act
of 2009 was amended in 2014. SB 1247 (Lieu), Chapter 840,
Statutes of 2014, required degree granting institutions to be
accredited by an agency recognized by the USDE by July 1, 2020,
in order to receive BPPE approval. Further, AB 2099 (Frazier),
Chapter 676, Statutes of 2014 also established requirements for
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unaccredited degree granting programs participating in Title 38,
the program that provides educational awards for eligible active
duty military members and veterans. While the BOPsych
recognizes recent Legislative actions as significant progress,
there remains a concern that these changes may be insufficient
to raise California's psychologists to the national standard.
As a result, in the 2016 Committee Staff Background Paper, it
was recommended that current language authorizing graduates with
degrees from unaccredited institutions to sit for licensure by
the BOPsych be removed, and ensure that timeframes for this
change accommodate current students. Additionally, it was
requested for the BOPsych to provide information to the
Committees as to whether regional accreditation may be
preferable to other types of accreditation, and the Committees
should specify the type of accreditation that should be required
of institutions offering degrees intended to lead to licensure.
As a result of that recommendation, this bill will delete the
current requirements pertaining to school approval and instead
require that an applicant for a psychologists' license graduate
from an institution that is accredited by a regional accrediting
agency recognized by the USDE. This bill will allow the BOPsych
to continue to accept applicant who possesses a doctorate degree
from an institution that is not accredited by an agency
accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the USDE, but
is approved to operate in this state by the BPPE until January
1, 2020; thereby giving persons who may be in a current program
time to complete a program.
Continuing Professional Development. Traditional models of CE
entail formal learning activities conducted in classroom or
workshop settings. As referenced earlier in the report, the
BOPsych seeks changes to their CE program to accommodate a
broader competency model called CPD. The CPD model provides
additional avenues for maintaining competence. These options
are meant to expand the ways licensees can increase their
learning and to include performance-based assessments of
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licensees' competence.
In the 2016 Committee Staff Background Paper, it was recommended
that the BOPsych provide recommendations to the Committee with
respect to establishing changes in CE requirements. To address
the issues raised by the BOP, this bill will change current
references to CE and replace it with CPD. This bill will define
CPD to include activities in four different categories including
professional, academic, sponsoring CE coursework, and board
certification from the American Board of Professional
Psychology. This bill will allow the BOPsych to grant an
extension in addition to an exemption from CPD requirements.
This bill requires licensees to certify under penalty of perjury
that he or she has completed the required CPD instead of
submitting all documentation. This bill will require CPD
courses to be approved by organizations that are approved by the
BOPsych.
Psychological Assistants. In order to become a licensed
psychologist, applicants must accrue 3,000 hours of supervised
professional experience. Individuals who have a Master's degree
and are admitted into a doctoral program may obtain these hours
by registering with the BOPsych as a PA. A PA provides
psychological services to individuals or groups while under the
supervision of a licensed psychologist or a board certified
psychiatrist. Current law requires that a PA be employed only
by a psychological or medical corporation, a California licensed
psychology clinic, a Bronzan-McCorquodale contract clinic, a
licensed psychologist, or a board certified psychiatrist. The
BOPsych recognizes that these statutes are outdated and do not
reflect the employment, contract, or volunteer opportunities
available in settings beyond current limitations, such as
hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. In the
2016 Committee Staff Background Paper, it was recommended that
the BOPsych should provide recommendations to the Committees for
updating PA statutes to focus on appropriate supervision, rather
than the physical setting. This bill makes changes related to
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PAs by deleting outdated employment restrictions and deletes the
option for a licensed psychologist to supervise, register, or
employ more than three PAs. In addition, this bill makes it
clear that a PA registers with the BOPsych and not the PAs
supervisor.
Retired License. The Psychology Act does not authorize a
retired license. Under existing law, a retired licensee may
choose only between "inactive" status, which costs $25 per year,
or "delinquent" status. These have negative connotations and
may not respect a long and honorable career. The BOPsych is
seeking to establish a "retired" licensure category, similar to
many other healing arts programs such as the Medical Board,
Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, Board of Behavioral Sciences,
and Board of Optometry. Adding this license designation is a
consistent request from licensees and is included in the
BOPsych's 2014-2018 Strategic Plan.
This bill authorizes the BOPsych to establish a retired license
and sets up the criteria for such a license. This bill provides
two pathways to return a retired license to active status; 1)
for those retired licensees whose retired license is less than
three years old, and 2) for those retired licensees who retired
license is more than three years old.
Web site Information for Consumers. The BOPsych's Web site
contains information for the benefit of consumers. As such, the
BOPsych has requested additional legislative authority to post
historical information on existing and past licensees' approved
graduate and post-graduate education on its Web site. This bill
will authorize the BOPsych to post specified information about
licensees on its Web site including information about
disciplinary licenses, enforcement actions or proceedings,
information about revocations, probations, or limitations on
practice ordered by the BOPsych, accusations filed by the
BOPsych, citations issued by the BOPsych, and specified
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information about licensee education, professional information
or other information as established by the BOPsych through
regulations.
Background on the BOP. The BOPharm is responsible for enforcing
federal and state laws pertaining to the acquisition, storage,
distribution and dispensing of dangerous drugs (including
controlled substances) and dangerous devices. The BOPharm has
over 140,000 licensees in 23 license categories that include
both personal and business licenses. As an agency that
regulates the individuals and businesses that dispense,
compound, provide, store and distribute prescription drugs and
devices and pharmaceutical services to the public, or to other
health care practitioners in compliance with state and federal
law, the licensing of pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy
technicians is the primary focus of BOPharm activity, with
consumer protection at the core of the BOPharm's operations.
The BOPharm's regulatory authority, as described in the Pharmacy
Law, extends over individuals and firms located both within and
outside California, if they provide services in California. The
BOPharm notes that it also ensures the safety of drug products
dispensed to patients and regulates those who handle, store, and
ship products from the manufacturer through the supply chain to
the pharmacy and ultimately to the patient.
Pharmacists also convey information related to drug therapy
management and are the health care provider most educated on
pharmaceutical care and management. The BOPharm has a highly
diverse and detailed licensing program for the individuals and
facilities the BOPharm regulates, reflecting the careful and
deliberative manner in which the U.S. regulates the
manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing of prescription
drugs and devices.
The BOPharm's enforcement activities are the core of its
program, with the majority of its staff and resources dedicated
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to enforcement functions. The BOPharm employs investigators who
work from home offices throughout the state and perform random,
unannounced inspections to detect violations, investigate
complaints, monitor licensees on probation, educate licensees
about Pharmacy Law requirements, serve as expert witnesses in
disciplinary hearings and identify violations and issues that
non-pharmacists may not be able to identify.
Background on the VMB. The mission of the VMB is to protect
consumers and animals through development and maintenance of
professional standards, licensing of veterinarians, Registered
Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), and premises, and diligent
enforcement of the California Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.
The VMB is composed of eight members: four veterinarians, one
RVT, and three public members. The VMB licenses 12,086
Veterinarians and 6,424 RVTs. The licensee population has
increased steadily over the past five years. The VMB also
requires registration of all premises where veterinary medicine,
veterinary dentistry, veterinary surgery, and the various
branches thereof, is being practiced. The VMB currently
registers 3,636 veterinary premises.
The VMB conducts regular practice analyses to validate the
licensing examinations for both veterinarians and RVTs.
Additional eligibility pathways have also been approved for
licensure of internationally trained veterinary graduates and
certification of RVTs to allow qualified applicants from other
states in the U.S. and countries around the world to come to
California and to improve the provision of veterinary health
care for consumers and their animals. The VMB's goals, as
stated in its Strategic Plan, include decreased enforcement
cycle times, enhanced quality and training of hospital
inspectors, inspecting existing hospitals within one year of
registration, and working with DCA to reduce the amount of
unlicensed activity occurring in the marketplace.
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Analysis Prepared by:
Gabby Nepomuceno, Elissa Silva / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301 FN:
0004548