BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2551
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2551 (Hernandez)
As Amended April 26, 2010
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 7-4 APPROPRIATIONS 11-5
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Eng, Hernandez, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Hill, Bradford, |
| |Hill, Ma, Nava, Ruskin | |Charles Calderon, Coto, |
| | | |Davis, Hall, Skinner, |
| | | |Solorio, Torlakson, |
| | | |Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Emmerson, Conway, Niello, |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| |Smyth | |Nielsen, Norby |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Establishes the California Pharmacy Technician
Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program (Program) for the
repayment of pharmacy technician (PT) education loans.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Permits the Health Professions Education Foundation (HPEF) to
solicit and receive funds from business, industry,
foundations, and other private and public sources for the
purpose of providing financial assistance in the form of
scholarships and loans through the Program.
2) Establishes the Program within HPEF.
3)Requires the Program to provide scholarships to pay for the
educational expenses of PT school students and to repay
qualifying educational loans of PTs who agree to participate
in designated medically underserved areas as provided in this
section.
4)Requires HPEF to administer the Program according to the
general guidelines applicable to the federal National Health
Service Corps Scholarship Program and the National Health
Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, except that:
a) A PT or PT student shall be eligible to participate in
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the program if he or she agrees to provide PT services in a
practice site located in an area of the state where unmet
priority needs for primary care family physicians exist as
determined by the Health Workforce Policy Commission; and,
b) No matching funds shall be required from any entity in
the practice site area.
5)Requires the Program be implemented only to the extent that
sufficient money is available to administer the Program.
6)Establishes the Program Fund in the State Treasury for any
private or public funds to the Program.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)No direct fiscal impact is created by authorizing the HPEF
within the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
to accept donations to support the loan fund established by
this bill.
2)Several other similar health professions loan programs are
supported by surcharges included in annual licensure
processes. This bill does not contain a similar self-funding
mechanism.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, "While PTs are the
second largest field within Allied Health, there is no
comprehensive statewide public or private financial aid program
to meet the needs of PTs. Becoming a PT requires an associate
degree in pharmacy technology, completion of a 240-hour training
course accredited by the American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists, or graduation from a school of pharmacy accredited
by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
Post-secondary education tuition ranges from [approximately]
$1664 in fees at a community college ($23,306 total cost) to
over $23,000 at a career or vocational college (not including
supplies or cost of living). Unfortunately, very few community
colleges in California provide training to become PTs, so most
students rely on private, costly education to become licensed.
"California is one of the bottom 5 states with the greatest
unmet demand in PTs. In addition to preparing, packaging, and
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distributing prescriptions, PTs often serve on the frontline of
health care delivery, assisting pharmacists with language and
cultural competency issues for patients. Demand for PTs will
increase significantly due to higher pharmaceutical demands by a
growing aging population, the need to replace workers to
transfer to other populations or leave the labor force, and
increased reliance on PTs by insurers, pharmacies and health
systems for the purposes of cost-containment."
PTs help licensed pharmacists prepare prescription medications,
provide customer service, and perform administrative duties
within a pharmacy setting. PTs generally are responsible for
receiving prescription requests, counting tablets, and labeling
bottles, while pharmacy aides perform administrative functions
such as answering phones, stocking shelves, and operating cash
registers.
HPEF provides scholarships and loan repayments to aspiring and
practicing health professionals who agree to practice in a
medically underserved area. Scholarships are offered to health
professional students attending one of California's accredited
colleges or universities. Loan repayment programs are offered to
graduates pursuing a health professional career to assist in the
repayment of educational debt. Scholarships and loan repayments
are offered to students and graduates from allied health,
nursing, mental health, medical and dental. The Foundation
administers the following funds and scholarship and loan
repayment programs:
1)The Vocational Nurse Education Fund:
a) Funded through a $5.00 surcharge for renewal of the
Vocational Nurse license in California; and,
b) Supports the Vocational Nurse Scholarship, Licensed
Vocational Nurse to Associate Degree Nursing and Licensed
Vocational Nurse Loan Repayment programs.
2)The Registered Nurse Education Fund:
a) Funded through a $10.00 surcharge for renewal of the
Registered Nurse (RN) license in California; and,
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b) Supports the Associate Degree Nursing Scholarship (ADN),
the Bachelor of Science Nursing Scholarship (BSN), and the
Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment (BNSLRP).
3)The Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund:
a) Funded through a $10.00 surcharge for renewal of
Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed
Clinical Social Worker licenses in California; and,
b) Supports the Licensed Mental Health Service Provider
Education Program.
4)Mental Health Services Act Fund:
a) Funded by Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services
Act, passed by voters in 2004 provides $2.5 million per
year; and,
b) Supports the Mental Health Loan Assumption Program.
5)The Health Professions Education Fund:
a) Supported entirely through grants and contributions from
public and private agencies, hospitals, health plans,
foundations, corporations, and individuals; and,
b) Supports the Allied Healthcare Education Scholarship,
the Health Professions Education Scholarship, the Health
Professions Loan Repayment, and the Steven M. Thompson
Physician Loan Repayment Program (STLRP).
6)Medically Underserved Account for Physicians:
a) Funded through a $25.00 surcharge for renewal of
allopathic physician licenses in California and through the
Managed Care Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund; and,
b) STLRP supports recently licensed physicians.
Those students and graduates who receive awards from HPEF are
dedicated to practicing direct patient care in medically
underserved areas of California. Service obligations are
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typically one to four years and vary depending on the program.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Weaver / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004406