AB 1943 (Chu) Acupuncturist Training Programs

June 30, 2002 -  AB 1943's scheduled hearing in the Senate Business and Professions Committee on July 1 has been postponed until August 5. AB 1943 standardizes acupuncture training programs at a minimum of 3000 hours (tutorials will remain 3,798 hours). AB 1943 will be amended one last time, specifically at the request of Senator Figueroa, to delay enforcement until 2005, and to defer study of longer programs to the Little Hoover Commission, also recommended in Figueroa's SB 1951. These amendments should allow the schools to withdraw their opposition to the bill's previous recommendation that a 4000 hour educational standard for our profession be adopted by 2010. Authored by Judy Chu. Sponsored by CAOMA..

September 23 - 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

Status

Sep 23 Chaptered Into Law Signed by Governor Davis
Aug 29 Enrolled (sent) to Governor Waiting for Signature
Aug 28 Assembly (concurrence on amendments) Passed 59-22
Aug 26 Senate Passed 25-11
Aug 05 Senate Business & Professions Committee Amended & Passed 6-0
May 29 Assembly Passed 61-16
May 22 Assembly Appropriations Committee Passed 16-7
April 23 Assembly Health Committee Amended and Passed 13-4
April 16 Assembly Business and Professions Committee Amended and Passed 7-3
Feb 14 Introduced by Assembly Member Judy Chu


June 30, 2002 -  AB 1943's scheduled hearing in the Senate Business and Professions Committee on July 1 has been postponed until August 5. AB 1943 standardizes acupuncture training programs at a minimum of 3000 hours (tutorials will remain 3,798 hours). AB 1943 will be amended one last time, specifically at the request of Senator Figueroa, to delay enforcement until 2005, and to defer study of longer programs to the Little Hoover Commission, also recommended in Figueroa's SB 1951. These amendments should allow the schools to withdraw their opposition to the bill's previous recommendation that a 4000 hour educational standard for our profession be adopted by 2010. Authored by Judy Chu. Sponsored by CAOMA.


May 29 - AB 1943 passed the Assembly Floor on a 61-16 vote. Seven Assembly Members spoke in support of the bill, and three against it. The three opposed were members of the Joint Legislative Sunset Review Committee, who are authoring SB 1951. Assembly members spoke positively about AB 1943. They mentioned the “grass roots” effort that our profession has made to raise our own standards of education; that we have waited over ten years for improvements to occur, and that we should not have to wait any longer, as AB 1951 would suggest.

May 22 - AB 1943 moved out of the Assembly Appropriations Committe on May 22, and to the Assembly Floor. In the committee, CAOMA lobbyist, Steve English, testified in support of AB 1943. The Council of Colleges (CCAOM) testified against the legislation, presumably because that they do not support higher educational standards.  Marilyn Neilsen, Executive Officer of the Acupuncture Board, testified that the Acupuncture Board had accepted the 3000 hour curriculum recommendation from their Task Force, and was in support of AB 1943. The Appropriations Committee only heard the bill because Ms. Neilsen had informed them that it could cost the Board as much as $15,000 over the next ten years to implement, even though most of the work had been done by the Competencies Task Force. Judy Chu plans to  make amendments to the bill once it gets into committee on the Senate side, in order to fix typos and better address the CE hours, probably leaving them up to the Board to decide.

What can you do?

1. Write a letter of support today!

Fax it to CAOMA ( 800-388-2928)

2. Contact Members of the Business and Professions Committee

Senate Business & Professions Committee

Further Information

Author:
The Honorable Judy Chu
State Capitol, Room 5126
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-319-2049
Fax: 916-319-2149

•   Comment to Judy Chu on AB 1943:
•   Write an email note to Assembly Member Judy Chu


Further Information
AB 1943 Text AB 1943 Analysis AB 1943 Letter to Senate Committee
AB 1943 Frequently Asked Questions AB 1943 Letters of Support