BILL NUMBER: SB 628	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 31, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 9, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  FEBRUARY 23, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 29, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 9, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 22, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Yee

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add Section 4936 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to acupuncture.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 628, as amended, Yee. Acupuncture: regulation.
   Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, establishes the
Acupuncture Board and makes it responsible for enforcing and
administering the act, including licensing persons who meet specified
licensure requirements. Under the act, licensees are titled
"acupuncturists," and are authorized to perform designated activities
pursuant to their license. The unlawful practice of acupuncture and
any other violation of the act is a crime.
    This bill would make it unprofessional conduct for an
acupuncturist to use the title of "Doctor" or use the abbreviation
"Dr." in connection with the practice of acupuncture unless he or she
holds a  license authorizing that use or a specified 
degree  that is approved by the board for the use of that
title  . This bill would also make it unprofessional conduct
for an acupuncturist to use the title "Doctor" or use the
abbreviation "Dr." without indicating the type of license  or
certificate  that entitles him or her to use that title.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 4936 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   4936.  (a) It is unprofessional conduct for an acupuncturist to
use the title "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr." in connection with
the practice of acupuncture unless he or she possesses a license
 or certificate  that authorizes the use or
possesses an earned doctorate degree from an accredited, approved, or
authorized educational institution as set forth under 
Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 94760) of Chapter 7 
 Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 94800)  of Part 59 of
Division 10  of Title 3  of the Education Code, which is in
acupuncture, oriental medicine, a biological science, or is otherwise
related to the authorized practice of an acupuncturist as set forth
in Sections 4927 and 4937.
   (b) The use of the title "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr." by an
acupuncturist as authorized  above   in
subdivision (a)  without further indicating the type of license
 , certificate,  or degree which authorizes that
use, constitutes unprofessional conduct.