BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1972
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          Date of Hearing:   April 30, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    AB 1972 (Jones) - As Amended:  March 28, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Business and  
          Professions  Vote:                            14-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill updates examination standards for licensed Respiratory  
          Care Practitioners (RCPs) by requiring licensure applicants to  
          pass a more comprehensive exam than the one specified in current  
          law. 

          It also grandfathers practicing RCPs, allowing them to continue  
          licensure without passing the more comprehensive exam, and  
          authorizes the Respiratory Care Board to extend the time period  
          an applicant may practice as an RCP applicant prior to passing  
          the exam. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor and absorbable costs to the Respiratory Care Board.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose.  This bill intends to update examination requirements  
          for RCPs by requiring applicants to pass the more rigorous  
          registered respiratory therapist (RRT) examination, which was  
          designed to test advanced level respiratory therapists.  Under  
          current law, applicants are only required to pass the  
          entry-level certified respiratory therapist (CRT) exam.

          Currently, applicants may take the CRT or the RRT.  However, the  
          author states all current graduates from RCP educational  
          programs meet the minimum admission requirements to take the RRT  
          exam, and it is necessary to require passage of the RRT to  
          ensure applicants meet this new minimum level of competency in  
          order to ensure consumer protection.  This bill is sponsored by  








                                                                  AB 1972
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          the California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC) and supported  
          by the Respiratory Care Board.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081