BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1932
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Date of Hearing: April 10, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 1932 (Cook) - As Introduced: February 22, 2012
SUBJECT : United States armed services: healing arts boards.
SUMMARY : Requires healing arts boards to issue a written
report to the Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) detailing
the methods of evaluating the education, training, and
experience obtained in military service and whether that
education, training, and experience is applicable to the board's
requirements for licensure, by January 1, 2014. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Requires healing arts boards to issue a written report to CDVA
that clearly details the methods of evaluating the education,
training, and experience obtained in military service and
whether that education, training, and experience is applicable
to the board's requirements for licensure, by January 1, 2014,
and annually thereafter.
2)Requires the boards' written reports to include quantitative
information about the number of service members who have
applied for and have used their military education, training,
and experience to fulfill the board's requirements for
licensure.
3)States legislative intent.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the licensure and regulation of various healing
arts professions and vocations by boards within the Department
of Consumer Affairs (DCA).
2)Requires the rules and regulations of these healing arts
boards to provide for methods of evaluating education,
training, and experience obtained in military service if such
training is applicable to the requirements of the particular
profession or vocation regulated by the board.
3)Specifies that CDVA has specified powers and duties relating
AB 1932
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to various programs serving veterans.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the author, "While
unemployment levels in California are high, the unemployment
levels for veterans are even higher. According to Governor
Brown's Executive Order B-9-11, "The unemployment rate for Gulf
War II veterans is 42% higher than it is for non-veterans."
"State agencies regulating health care are required by law to
help service members transfer military training to meet
licensing requirements for health care workers in California.
Unfortunately, even though this law has been on the books since
the Vietnam War, many service members find it nearly impossible
to apply their military training to qualify for jobs in health
care.
"A study from the California Wellness Foundation from 2009
projected shortages of qualified health care workers,
particularly including 'nursing aides, orderlies and attendants;
medical secretaries; medical assistants; licensed practical and
licensed vocational nurses; home health aides and dental
assistants.' The study indicated that there are not enough
accredited educational programs in the state to respond to
demand. The current pool of educated health care specialists
leaving military service should be utilized before their medical
skills are allowed to go to waste.
"AB 1932 addresses the problem by requiring that agencies follow
the law that is already in place, and requires that they report
their progress to CDVA."
Background . This bill requires healing arts boards under DCA to
issue a written report to CDVA detailing the methods of
evaluating the education, training, and experience obtained in
military service and whether that education, training, and
experience is applicable to the board's requirements for
licensure, by January 1, 2014, and annually thereafter.
Current law requires healing arts boards to provide for methods
of evaluating education, training, and experience obtained in
military service if such training is applicable to the
AB 1932
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requirements of the particular profession or vocation regulated
by the board. This requirement is based on the policy that,
consistent with high quality health care services, persons with
skills, knowledge and experience obtained in the armed services
of the United States should be permitted to apply such learning
and contribute to the health manpower needs of the state at the
maximum level of responsibility and skill for which they are
qualified.
Suggested amendment . The author may wish to amend this bill to
include the Legislature, in addition to CDVA, as a recipient of
the written report required under this bill.
Double referred . This bill is double-referred to Assembly
Veterans Affairs Committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Rebecca May / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301