BILL ANALYSIS
AB 501
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 501 (Emmerson)
As Amended July 13, 2009
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |80-0 |(May 28, 2009) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 17, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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Original Committee Reference: B. & P.
SUMMARY : Permits the Medical Board of California (MBC) to issue
a limited license to an applicant for a physician and surgeon's
license, sets the terms of use for the titles "Dr." and "M.D.,"
makes changes to the physician and surgeon license fee cap and
to the Contingent Fund (fund), and requests a financial audit of
the MBC.
The Senate amendments :
1)Delete the requirement that an applicant for a physician's and
surgeon's license sign under penalty of perjury an agreement
in which the applicant agrees to limit his or her practice, as
specified.
2)State that any person who knowingly provides false information
in the agreement will be subject to any sanctions available to
the board.
3)Replace the Bureau of State Audits with the Office of State
Audits and Evaluations (Office) within the Department of
Finance as the party responsible for commencing a preliminary
review of MBC's financial status, and requires the office
shall make the results of this review available upon request.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)No direct fiscal impact to authorize counselors meeting
specified oversight, training, and supervisory requirements to
conduct rapid HIV testing via skin punctures.
2)Minor savings to the extent rapid skin tests become less
administratively burdensome and costly to employers who are
AB 501
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required to provide approximately $2,500 in training per
employee to meet current phlebotomy training requirements.
3)Minor savings in testing costs to the extent this bill results
in a shift from a more expensive oral swab test ($12) to a
less expensive skin puncture test ($7). Due to recent budget
cuts, the statewide budget for HIV testing has been reduced
from $10.4 million to $9.8 million. This bill helps ensure
more people are tested with fewer resources.
4)Major potential savings per 10 infections prevented. $3
million in public savings will accrue to the extent this bill
results in informing 10 additional HIV-positive individuals of
their status who would otherwise not be tested. This estimate
assumes a $300,000 cumulative lifetime savings per individual
as quantified by research. Research indicates many HIV
positive individuals, once informed of their status, make
behavior changes that reduce transmission of the virus.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version passed by the Senate.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Huchel / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301
FN: 0001943