BILL NUMBER:  SB 674
  VETOED	DATE: 10/12/2009




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 674 without my signature.

While some provisions may provide marginal improvements to consumer
protection, I cannot support this bill when it fails to address the
need for stronger licensing and oversight of outpatient surgical
centers.   The continued reliance by the medical community on
external accreditation agencies without enforcement capability is an
insufficient solution for protecting patients.  As outpatient
surgeries continue to increase in number and complexity, surgical
centers cannot continue to perform procedures in an unregulated and
unenforced environment.

I would ask the medical community to work with my Administration next
year to bring consistent and effective oversight to this growing
industry in the shared interest of protecting patient safety.

For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger