BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1236
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 8, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1236 (Price) - As Amended: June 18, 2012
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill extends the sunset dates for, and implements numerous
recommendations that emerged from the legislative sunset review
of, the Board of Podiatric Medicine (BDM) and the Physician
Assistant Committee (PAC).
Provisions related to the BPM include:
1)Extending the sunset date from January 1, 2013 to January 1,
2017.
2)Allowing the BPM to increase costs assessed to licensees found
guilty of unprofessional conduct, not to exceed the actual and
reasonable costs of the investigation and prosecution of the
case, if the BPM does not adopt the decision of the
administrative law judge and finds grounds for increasing the
costs to be assessed.
3)Repealing an obsolete provision prohibiting Doctors of
Podiatric Medicine from performing an admitting exam at
hospitals
4)Several other clarifying and minor provisions.
Provisions related to the PAC include:
1)Extending the sunset date from January 1, 2013 to January 1,
2017.
2)Changing the name of the Physician Assistant Committee to the
Physician Assistant Board, and conforming changes. Retains the
Physician Assistant Board within the jurisdiction of the
Medical Board.
3)Applying a number of standard licensure-related and
administrative provisions that currently apply to other
SB 1236
Page 2
healing arts boards, to the Physician Assistant Board.
4)Modifying the composition of the Physician Assistant Board
(previously Committee).
5)Authorizing the Physician Assistant Board to establish, by
regulation, a system for the placement of a license on a
retired status.
6)Allowing the Board to proceed with investigation or
disciplinary action regardless of an expired, cancelled,
surrendered, or otherwise inactive licensure status.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Annual fee-supported special fund costs associated with
continued operation of the following regulatory entities, as
follows:
a) BPM, of $1 million annually, until January 1, 2017.
b) Physician Assistant Committee, of $1.2 million annually,
until January 1, 2017.
1)Minor potential increased revenue that would offset the BPM's
costs of investigation and prosecution of disciplinary cases.
2)Potential minor regulatory and IT costs to the Physician
Assistant Board if it promulgates regulations to establish a
retired licensure status. Any increased costs would be
covered by fee revenues.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill extends to January 1, 2017, the
provisions establishing the California BPM and the PAC, and
makes other changes that emerged from legislative sunset
review hearings.
2)Background . The BPM licenses and regulates doctors of
podiatric medicine (DPMs), also called podiatrists.
Podiatrists diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and
injuries of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. They can
specialize in areas such as sports medicine, surgery,
biomechanics, and diabetic foot care, among others. About
2,000 podiatric medical doctors are licensed in California.
The PAC within the Medical Board of California (MBC) regulates
SB 1236
Page 3
about 8,000 physician assistants. PAs perform a broad array of
primary medical care activities under the supervision of a
physician. PA licensure was created in 1975 to address a
shortage and geographic maldistribution of health care
services in California. The PAC has a cooperative
relationship with the MBC, and relies on the MBC for
investigative and other services.
3)Related Legislation . Other sunset bills being heard in
committee today include SB 1237 (Price), which relates to the
Board of Pharmacy and the Court Reporters Board, among others;
SB 1238 (Price), which relates to the Board of Behavioral
Sciences and the Board of Psychology; and SB 1239 (Price),
which relates to the Acupuncture Board.
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081