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| California Legislation - QuickLinks to Current Legislation |
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| The following legislation has been sponsored, supported, or opposed by the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations: |
| 2002 California Legislation that Passed |
| 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.. |
| SB 1951 (Figueroa) Acupuncture Board Changes |
| June 28, 2002 - SB 1951 passed Assembly Health Committee on June 25, after the author agreed to further amendments. SB 1951 requires a faculty member to replace an acupuncturist on the Acupuncture Board, and will direct the Little Hoover Commission to review the scope of practice, educational standards, licensing exam, and the school approval process. CAOMA had taken an "oppose unless amended" position on SB 1951. |
| Medi-Cal Optional Acupuncture Benefit |
| June 28, 2002 - The Senate and Assembly restored the acupuncture optional benefit to the Governor's budget proposal, which had removed it. The Senate and Assembly have been holding budget conference committee meetings in order to resolve the differences in their respective budgets, and to cut billions and/or raise taxes to balance the budget. CAOMA has lobbied in favor of keeing for acupuncture in Medi-Cal, and we are confident that it will be. |
| 2002 Legislation that Failed |
| SB 208 Herb Sales Tax Exemption |
| --Type Summary Here-- |
| AB 249 Herb Sales Tax Exemption |
| --Type Summary Here-- |
| AB 2314 (Chu) Herb Certification |
| Assembly Bill 2314 would create a voluntary certification program for Asian medicines. The bill has been changed to another subject altogether after some herb companies opposed it. The Council hopes to hold some meetings with the herb industry and develop an alternative bill for next year. |
| SB 341 Scope of Practice |
| --Type Summary Here-- |
| SB 573 (Burton) Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture |
| June 28, 2002 - SB 573 was schedules to be heard in the Assembly Health Committee on June 25, but the Chair of that committee, Helen Thomson, pulled it off at the last minute. Senate Bill 573 would have required health care insurance plans to offer acupuncture coverage. Authored by John Burton. Sponsored by CAOMA. |
| SB 1705 (Burton) Disability Evaluation |
| June 26, 2002 - SB 1705 was held by the Assembly Insurance Committee after the California Medical Association reversed their neutral position and testified against it in order to to protect their members from competition. SB 1705 would have specified that acupuncturists must complete additional training before taking the Qualified Medical Evaluator exam given by the Industrial Medical Council, and would have eliminated the current regulations that require employers to pay for a second QME to render an opinion on disability. Authored by John Burton. Sponsored by CAOMA. |
| SB 1750 (Spieir) Ephedra Labeling |
| June 28, 2002 - SB 1750 passed the Assembly Health Committee on June 25, after the author agreed to amendments proposed by CAOMA to exempt licensed health care professionals. SB 1750 will require labeling and sales restrictions for certain dietary supplements, including ephedra (ma huang). CAOMA had an "oppose unless amended" position until SB 1750. We are waiting to see if the agreed amendments resolve our concerns. |
| SB 2019 (Speier) Student Loans |
| June 28, 2002 - SB 2019 passed the Assembly Committee on Higher Education on June 28. SB 2019 would authorize health care licensing boards to cite and fine, and deny a license or license renewal to anyone who is in default on a government subsidized student loan. This bill would have little or no impact on the acupuncturist profession. CAOMA has taken a "watch" position since the bill was amended. |
| 2001 Legislation |
| Assembly Bill 249 (Matthews) - Herb Sales Tax Exemption |
| October 9 , 2001 - Vetoed by Governor Davis. Assembly Bill 249 (Matthews) would have allowed for a partial sales tax exemption for herbs, herbal formulas, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, and orthotic devices that are used or furnished by acupuncturists in the performance of their professional services. Supported by CAOMA. More info.... |
| Senate Bill 341 (Perata) - Scope of Practice |
| September 27, 2001 - Signed into law by Governor Davis - . Senate Bill 341 (Perata) clarifies the scope of practice for Licensed Acupuncturists by replacing the phrase "nutrition, including the use of drugless substances and herbs as dietary supplements" with the phrase "nutrition, diet, herbs, plant, animal , and mineral products, and dietary supplements," and adds heat, cold, and magnets to the scope of practice. Sponsored by CAOMA. More info.... |
| Assembly Bill 208 (Frommer) - Herb Sales Tax Exemption |
| September, 2001 - Died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee after being put on held for Budget considerations after the energy crisis. Authored by Assemblyman Frommer, co-authored by Assemblyman Shelley and Senator Burton, the language from AB 208 was later inserted into AB 249 (Matthews). Sponsored by CAOMA. More info... |
| California Legislation 1975-2000 |
