Professions and vocations.

(1) Existing law, until January 1, 2013, declares that using a vertical enforcement and prosecution model for the Medical Board of California's investigations is in the best interests of the people of California. Under existing law, a vertical enforcement and prosecution model is described as the joint assignment of a complaint to a board investigator and to a deputy attorney general responsible for prosecuting the case if the investigation results in the filing of an accusation. Existing law requires the board to, among other things, establish and implement a plan to locate specified staff in the same offices in order to carry out the intent of the vertical enforcement and prosecution model. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions to January 1, 2014, and would also make a conforming change in that regard. (2) Existing law provides for the certification and regulation of podiatrists by the California Board of Podiatric Medicine within the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California. Under existing law, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine will be repealed on January 1, 2013. Existing law requires that boards scheduled for repeal be reviewed by the Joint Sunset Review Committee of the Legislature. This bill would extend the operation of the California Board of Podiatric Medicine until January 1, 2017. The bill would specify that the board is subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would revise provisions regarding the examination of applicants for certification to practice podiatric medicine. (3) Existing law establishes the Physician Assistant Committee within the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California and provides for its membership, operation, duties, and powers with respect to licensure and regulation of physician assistants, including requirements for the payment of license renewal fees. Under existing law, the committee will be repealed on January 1, 2013. This bill would rename the committee as the Physician Assistant Board, make various conforming changes relative to this change in designation, and extend the operation of the board until January 1, 2017. The bill would revise the composition of the board and would specify that the board is subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would allow the board to establish, by regulation, a system for placement of a licensee on retired status, as specified. (4) Existing law specifies reports to be made and procedures to be followed when a coroner receives information, as specified, that a death may be the result of a physician and surgeon's, or podiatrist's gross negligence or incompetence, and in connection with disciplinary actions against those licensees. This bill would expand those provisions to include conduct of a physician assistant. (5) Existing law requires a physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician and surgeon, and a doctor of podiatric medicine to report to his or her licensing board the occurrence of an indictment or information charging a felony against the licensee or the conviction of the licensee of a felony or misdemeanor. Under existing law the failure of those licensees to submit the required report is a crime. This bill would impose that requirement on a physician assistant. Because a violation of this requirement by a physician assistant would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (6) Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physical therapists by the Physical Therapy Board of California. Existing law authorizes the board to appoint an executive officer. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2013, and repealed on January 1, 2014. Under existing law, boards scheduled for repeal are required to be evaluated by the Joint Sunset Review Committee. This bill would delete the inoperative date and would instead repeal these provisions on January 1, 2014. The bill would also specify that this board would be subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. (7) Existing law, the Naturopathic Doctors Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors by the Naturopathic Medicine Committee within the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2014. Under existing law, boards scheduled for repeal are required to be evaluated by the Joint Sunset Review Committee. This bill would make a conforming change with regard to the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2014, and the bill would also specify that this board would be subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. (8) Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacies, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, wholesalers of dangerous drugs or devices, and others by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law authorizes the board to appoint an executive officer. Under existing law, the board and its authority to appoint an executive officer will be repealed on January 1, 2013. Under existing law, boards scheduled for repeal are required to be evaluated by the Joint Sunset Review Committee. This bill would extend the operation of the California State Board of Pharmacy and its authority to appoint an executive officer until January 1, 2017, and would specify that the board is subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. (9) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of psychologists by the Board of Psychology. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of licensed educational psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional clinical counselors by the Board of Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law specifies the composition of each board and requires or authorizes each board to employ an executive officer. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2013. Under existing law, boards scheduled for repeal are required to be evaluated by the Joint Sunset Review Committee. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2017. This bill would specify that each board is subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. (10) Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of acupuncture by the Acupuncture Board. Existing law authorizes the board to appoint an executive officer. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2013. Under existing law, boards scheduled for repeal are required to be evaluated by the Joint Sunset Review Committee. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2015. The bill would instead specify that the board would be subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. Existing law requires the board, on or before January 1, 2004, to establish standards for the approval of schools and colleges offering education and training in the practice of an acupuncturist. Under existing law, within 3 years of initial approval by the board, each program approved by the board is required to receive full institutional approval by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, which is responsible for, among other things, providing approval to operate private postsecondary institutions according to specified minimum operating standards. This bill would provide the board with ongoing authority to establish those standards. The bill would also update references to provisions providing for the approval by the bureau to operate private postsecondary institutions. (11) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of court reporters by the Court Reporters Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law authorizes this board to appoint an executive officer and committees as necessary. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2013. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2017, and would specify that the board is subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. Existing law requires, until January 1, 2013, certain fees and revenues collected by the board to be deposited into the Transcript Reimbursement Fund to be available to provide reimbursement for the cost of providing shorthand reporting services to low-income litigants in civil cases. Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2013, low-income persons appearing pro se to apply for funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, subject to specified requirements and limitations. Existing law requires the board, until January 1, 2013, to publicize the availability of the fund to prospective applicants. Existing law requires the unencumbered funds remaining in the Transcript Reimbursement Fund as of January 1, 2013, to be transferred to the Court Reporters' Fund. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2017, and would make a technical change to these provisions. By extending the operation of the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, which is a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. (12) Existing law, the Electronic and Appliance Repair Dealer Registration Law, provides for the registration and regulation of electronic and appliance service dealers and service contractors by the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation within the Department of Consumer Affairs and makes a failure to comply with its provisions a crime. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, requires a service contractor to pay specified fees to the bureau, including a registration fee and a registration renewal fee. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, requires the Director of Consumer Affairs to gather evidence of violations of the Electronic and Appliance Repair Dealer Registration Law, and any of its regulations, by a service contractor or by any employee, partner, officer, or member of any service contractor. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, requires a service contractor to maintain specified records to be open for inspection by the director and other law enforcement officials. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, also provides for the revocation of the registration of a service contractor by the director and for the superior court to issue a restraining order or injunction against a service contractor who violates these provisions. This bill would extend the operation of these and other related provisions to January 1, 2015. By extending the operation of certain of these provisions, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (13) Existing law, until January 1, 2013, establishes the Health Quality Enforcement Section within the Department of Justice for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting proceedings against licensees and applicants within the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, the Board of Psychology, or any committee under the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, requires all complaints against licensees of these boards to be made available to the Health Quality Enforcement Section. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2014. (14) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.