| 2002 California News Summaries |
| 2002 California News Summaries. |
| CCAOM Paid $30,000 to Lobbyist to Oppose Profession |
| Nov. 1, 2002 - Sacramento, CA - Working in concert with ACAOM and NCCAOM, the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) paid over $30,000 during 2002 to for a lobbyist to oppose legislation sponsored by California's licensed acupuncturists. |
| California Acupuncture Board Releases July 2002 Exam Results |
| September 27, 2002 - San Jose, CA - The California Acupuncture Board released exam results from the July 2002 California Acupuncture Licensing Exam, showing a 71.1% pass rate for first-time examinees from Board-approved schools. |
| Governor Davis Signs Chu Acupuncture Education Bill |
| September 23, 2002 - Sacramento, CA - Today, Governor Gray Davis signed landmark legislation by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) that will increase curriculum hours for students who enter acupuncture training programs beginning January 1, 2005. |
| AB 1943 and SB 1951 Sent to Governor Davis |
| August 29, 2002 - Sacramento - The Senate and Assembly passed AB 1943 and SB 1951 acupuncturist legislation, sending both bills to Governor Davis for his signature. |
| Landmark Legislation Sent to Governor Davis |
| August 28, 2002 - Sacramento - The California State Legislature passed landmark acupuncture legislation by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) that will increase curriculum hours for students who enter an acupuncture school on or after January 1, 2005. The bill has been sent to Governor Davis for his signature. |
| AB 1943 Passes Senate Business and Professions Committee |
| August 6, 2002 - Sacramento - With over one hundred acupuncturists and students in attendance, AB 1943 was destined to pass the Senate Business and Professions Committee on a 6-0 vote, in spite of residual opposition from the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. |
| Senate Passes Budget, Committee Hearings Postponed |
| June 30, 2002 - Sacramento - CAOMA's SB 573 (insurance) and SB 1705 (workers compensation) died in committee this week. SB 577 (alternative medicine), SB 1750 (ephedra labeling), SB 1951 (Acupuncture Board), SB 2019 (student loans) passed votes in committees. AB 1943 (education), scheduled to be heard on July 1 with new author amendments, was postponed again until August. |
| AB 1943 Scheduled for Senate B&P Hearing |
| June 21, 2002 - Sacramento - SB 573, SB 1795, and SB 1951 are coming up for hearing next week. AB 1943 has been set for a hearing date on July 1, thanks to your calls and letters. Now, we need more calls and letters to committee members. |
| Bills Set for More Committee Hearings |
| June 19, 2002 - Sacramento - AB 1943 was amended and set for July 1 hearing date. SB 573 (June 25), SB 1705 (June 26), and SB 1951 (June 25) are all set for committee hearing dates. Letters are needed from the profession. |
| SB 1951 Passes Senate Committee |
| June 18, 2002 - Sacramento - SB 1951 passed the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on a 9-1 vote. The California acupuncture profession asked for specific amendments to the bill, while our adversaries, the Council of Colleges, supported the bill as is. Senator Figueroa eventually accepted amendments proposed by Assembly Member Wyman on behalf of the profession to require that studies be conducted by the Little Hoover Commission, and independent government policy commission. |
| Legislative Alert 12 June 2002 |
| June 12, 2002 - Sacramento - Legislators need to hear from their constituents to calendar AB 1943 and other bills for hearing dates. |
| AB 1943 Passes Assembly Floor 61-16 |
| May 29, 2002 - Sacramento - AB 1943 passed the Assembly Floor on a 61-16 vote. Seven Assembly Members spoke in support of the bill, and three against it. |
| California Legislative Alert 24 May 2002 |
| May 24, 2002 - Sacramento - AB 1943 goes to Assembly Floor. SB 1705 moves from the Senate to the Assembly. |
| Acupuncture Board Supports 3000-Hour Curriculum |
| May 13, 2002 - Los Angeles - The California Acupuncture Board votes to accept the Task Force recommendations for a minimum of a 3000 hour curriculum, and sends a request to the Joint Legislative Committee asking for consideration for the Board's needs. |
| Legislative Committee Votes to Renew Acupuncture Board |
| May 1, 2002 - Sacramento - The Joint Legislative Sunset Review Committee, under the direction of Senator Liz Figueroa, reluctantly allows the Acupuncture Board to continue its existence, in spite of the Board's clean record, continued improvements, and renewed dedication to excellence. |
| California Legislative Alert - 25 April 2002 |
| April 25, 2002 - Sacramento - SB 1705 set for Senate Business and Professions Committee. AB 1943 sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. |
| Task Force Recommends New Curriculum |
| April 24, 2002 - Sacramento - After nine months and five productive all-day meetings, the Task Force on Professional Competencies and Educational Outcomes submitted its 3000-hour curriuclum proposal to the Acupuncture Board for its review. |
| AB 1943 Moves Through Health Committee |
| April 23, 2002 - Sacramento - Senate Bill 1705 and Assembly Bill 1943 moved through their first committees. SB 1705 passed on a party-line 5-3 vote, while AB 1943 passed its second committee. The Council of Colleges, ACAOM, and the Alliance oppose the higher standards of education being recommended by the profession in AB 1943. |
| Legislative Alert 17 April 2002 |
| April 17, 2002 - Sacramento - AB 1943 moves to the Assembly Health Committee. Time to make some phone calls again. |
| AB 1943 Passes Assembly Committee |
| April 16 - Sacramento - Requiring action by the Speaker of the Assembly, a packed hearing room, and some politicking, AB 1943 was scheduled heard in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, and passed on a 7-3 bipartisan vote! |
| Task Force Compromises on Hours |
| April 10, 2002 - Sacramento - After managing to extend the Task Force's proceedings to five meetings and nine months, a few schools still claimed that the hours were more than they wanted. |
| School Representatives Threaten to Walk Out of Meeting |
| April 10, 2002 - Sacramento - After political manuevering had extended the Task Force's proceedings to five meetings and nine months, a few school representatives threatened to end meaningful discussions unless their demand for lower educational standards were addressed. |
| FDA Links Kava Products to Liver Damage |
| March 25, 2002 - The U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration asks health care professionals to watch for, and report any incidences of liver disease that may be attributed to the consumption of dietary supplements containing kava. |
| Chinese Medicine Day Celebrated in San Francisco |
| March 19, 2002 - San Francisco - Chinese Medicine Day, sponsored by the California Certified Acupuncturist Association, attracted hundred of participants, including U.S. Congress Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Mike Honda, both co-authors of HR 747, the acupuncture MediCare bill. Nancy Pelosi is the House Minority Whip, and the highest elected female official in Federal Government. Photos. |
| Sacramento Legislative Day Huge Success |
| March 13, 2002 - Sacramento - California Licensed Acupuncturists volunteered to spend a day at the State Capitol in Sacramento treating Legislators and their staff, making a popsitive impression on many who recieved free treatments. Photos. |
| CCAOM Colleges Hires Sacramento Lobbyist |
| March 1, 2002 - Sacramento - The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) hired lobbying firm Livingston and Mattesich to represent their vested interests in opposing legislation to advance the educational standards for California Licensed Acupuncturists. |
| 2002 California Legislation Introduced |
| February 21, 2002 - Sacramento - Senator John Burton and Assembly Member Judy Chu introduced legislation to require insurance coverage for acupuncture, improve educational requirements, and allow disability evalutions of injured workers to be conducted by qualified acupuncturists. |
| Governor Officially Proclaims Chinese New Year |
| February 11, 2002 - San Francisco - Becoming the first sitting California Governor ever to ring in the Chinese New Year in San Francisco's Chinatown, Governor Gray Davis officially recognized the Chinese "Year of the Horse," and proclaimed February 12, 2002 as "Chinese New Year's Day" in California. Photos. |
| SPES Herbal Products Containing Drugs Recalled |
| February 7, 2002 - Sacramento - BotanicLab of Brea, California, issued an immediate recall of PC SPES and SPES, after the California State Department of Health Services found them to be contaminated with warfarin and alprazolam. |
| Acupuncture Board Issues 2001 Annual Report |
| January 31, 2002 - Sacramento - The California Acupuncture Board issued its annual report to the Legislature, stating that over one thousand examinations were given, six hundred new licenses issued, and a total of 7,592 current licensees. Additionally, the licensing examination performance standards were exceptionally high. |
| Asplund Reappointed to Acupuncture Board |
| January 28, 2002 - Sacramento - Senator John Burton reappointed Shari Asplund, former Chair of the California Acupuncture Board, to serve a second full term through July, 2005. Photos. |