BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1932
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 24, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AB 1932 (Gorell, Cook) - As Amended: April 17, 2012
SUBJECT : United States armed services: healing arts boards
SUMMARY : Requires a report from healing arts boards regarding
veterans. Specifically, this bill :
1. Requires, by January 1, 2014, and annually thereafter,
every healing arts board to issue a specified written
report to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Legislature 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.
2. Contains a sunset provision. The requirement to submit
a report to the Legislature under subdivision (a) shall be
inoperative on January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 10231.5
of the Government Code.
3. Requires that a report to the Legislature shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
Code.
4. Declares the intent of the Legislature in this regard.
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. With regard to all licensed professions: It is the
policy of this state that, consistent with the provision of
high-quality services, persons with skills, knowledge, and
experience obtained in the armed services of the United
States should be permitted to apply this learning and
contribute to the employment needs of the state at the
maximum level of responsibility and skill for which they
are qualified.
AB 1932
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a. To this end, rules and regulations of boards
provided for in this code shall provide for methods of
evaluating education, training, and experience
obtained in the armed services, if applicable to the
requirements of the business, occupation, or
profession regulated. These rules and regulations
shall also specify how this education, training, and
experience may be used to meet the licensure
requirements for the particular business, occupation,
or profession regulated. Each board shall consult with
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Military
Department before adopting these rules and
regulations. Each board shall perform the duties
required by this section within existing budgetary
resources of the agency within which the board
operates. �Emphasis added.]
3. Specific to healing arts professions: It is the policy
of the State of California 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.
4. To this end, the rules and regulations of healing arts
boards shall provide for methods of evaluating education,
training, and experience obtained in military service if
such training is applicable to the requirements of that
profession.
5. The 19 healing arts boards are:
a. Acupuncture Board
b. Behavioral Sciences, Board of
c. Dental Hygiene Committee of California
d. Dental Board of California
e. Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau
f. Medical Board of California
g. Naturopathic Medicine Committee
h. Occupational Therapy, California Board of
i. Optometry, Board of
j. Osteopathic Medical Board of California
AB 1932
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aa. Pharmacy, Board of
bb. Physical Therapy Board of California
cc. Physician Assistant Committee
dd. Podiatric Medicine, Board of
ee. Psychology, Board of
ff. Registered Nursing, Board of
gg. Respiratory Care Board
hh. Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board
ii. Veterinary Medical Board and Registered
Veterinary Technician Examining Committee
jj. Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric
Technicians, Board of
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown at this time.
COMMENTS : According to the DCA, the DCA "?is the umbrella
agency that oversees 19 healing arts boards that protect and
serve California consumers. The healing arts boards regulate a
variety of professions from doctors and nurses to physical
therapists and optometrists."
According to the author:
Veterans, particularly young veterans from the era of
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, face an alarming
employment situation. Gulf War II era veterans were
unemployed at a rate of 12.5%, compared to 9.5% for the
overall population. To the extent that these veterans have
military training and/or have experience (likely in austere
and extreme circumstances) allowing them to use that
training and experience to transition into the same or a
related field, facilitating their employment, is strongly
aligned with the explicit policies of the State.
As stated by the author, the employment landscape for all
Americans is challenging, but it is particularly so for
veterans. Young veteran unemployment is alarming. To the
extent that California can recognize vocational training
received by veterans and facilitate their employment, that is a
benefit.
Existing law requires the Healing Arts Boards to:
provide for methods of evaluating education, training, and
experience obtained in the armed services, if applicable to
the requirements of the business, occupation, or profession
AB 1932
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regulated. These rules and regulations shall also specify
how this education, training, and experience may be used to
meet the licensure requirements for the particular
business, occupation, or profession regulated
The bill directs the Healing Arts Boards to evaluate if and to
what extent they can support such transitions from military to
civilian vocations and to report on those conclusions to the
Department and the Legislature. It does not dictate to the
Healing Arts Boards how they should accommodate the transition,
leaving that to their discretion and experience.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550