BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           2300 (Emmerson)
          
          Hearing Date:  8/2/2010         Amended: 7/15/2010
          Consultant: Katie Johnson       Policy Vote: Health 7-0
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY:  AB 2300 would require the California Department  
          of Public Health (CDPH) to license a genetic counselor applicant  
          and to issue a temporary genetic counselor license, as  
          specified. 
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          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2010-11      2011-12       2012-13     Fund
                                                                  
          CDPH licensing staff               up to $50 up to $50  
          $25Special*

          *State Department of Public Health Licensing and Certification  
          Fund
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: 
          
          This bill would require the California Department of Public  
          Health (CDPH) to license a genetic counselor applicant who is  
          currently credentialed and in good standing with the American  
          Board of Genetic Counseling and has met specified education and  
          examination requirements until related pending regulations are  
          finalized; these specific provisions would sunset January 1,  
          2014. Licenses could be renewed every three years. The genetic  
          counselor licensing program was established by SB 1364  
          (Johnston), Chapter 941, Statutes of 2000.

          This bill would also require CDPH to issue a temporary genetic  
          counselor license, as specified, commencing July 1, 2011, that  
          would be valid for up to two years and would not be renewable.

          Although actual numbers are unknown, it is estimated that CDPH  
          would receive approximately 200 - 300 applications for a genetic  
          counselor license and about 70 applicants for a temporary  










          genetic counselor license in the first year, and 25 and 50  
          applications, respectively, in the following years. Depending on  
          the number of actual applications received and the complexity of  
          the application review, CDPH could require resources of up to  
          $100,000 for a staff to process the applications in the first  
          year. Due to a decrease of applications in future years, ongoing  
          costs would likely be minor and absorbable.

          Applicants for both the genetic counselor license and the  
          temporary genetic counselor license would pay licensing and  
          renewal fees of $200, if applicable. Since the actual cost of  
          licensing these applicants is unknown, the licensing fee could  
          not be adequate to cover all CDPH's licensing costs. Staff  
          recommends that the bill be amended to permit CDPH to set the  
          licensing fee at an amount sufficient to cover costs of the  
          program.