BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1416 
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 29, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

               AB 1416 (Galgiani) - As Introduced:  February 27, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Business &  
          Professions  Vote:                            8-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the California Board of Vocational Nursing  
          and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) to use written documentation  
          instead of site visits, when appropriate, to evaluate schools  
          during the accreditation process.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor savings to the Board to the extent review of written  
          materials during the evaluation process results in fewer  
          accreditation site visits.  

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . This bill authorizes the Board to use written  
            materials alone or in conjunction with site visits to increase  
            the efficiency of the accreditation process. The Board has  
            accredited about 100 training programs since 2004. According  
            to the author, this bill improves consumer protections by  
            reducing travel costs and allowing the Board to focus on  
            investigations of non-compliance instead. 

           2)Background  . The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric  
            Technicians is the oversight body of licensed vocational  
            nurses and psychiatric technicians. The Board establishes  
            standards for exams, licensure, and accreditation. In  
            addition, the Board enforces disciplinary standards. 
           
          3)Related Legislation  . AB 2008 (Business and Professions  
            Committee), in 2004, was similar to this bill. AB 2008 was  
            placed on the inactive file of the Senate. 








                                                                  AB 1416 
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           Analysis Prepared by  :    Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081