| STRONGLY OPPOSED BY CAOMA |
SB 233 (Figueroa)
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SB 233 will eliminate the Acupuncture Board and its oversight of licensees, while allowing and prohibiting diagnosis.
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| * SB 233 is on hold in the Appropriations Committee, pending decision by its author to amend and/or move the bill. |
| Senate Bill 233 would: |
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1. Eliminate the Acupuncture Board, while retaining the Acupuncture Licensure Act and regulations, leaving unfamiliar bureaucrats in the Department of Consumer Affairs to regulate the profession. |
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2. Restrict or prohibit diagnosis by acupuncturists. |
| SB 233 conflicts with AB 1113, which will require sending them to a conference committee, where bills which amend the same section of law with differing language are sent to work out a compromise version. Amazingly, Legisaltive Counsel wrote SB 233 in such a manner that it actually conflicts with itself. |
| The possible ramifications of SB 233 include down-grading educational standards, increasing licensing fees, limiting scope of practice, reducing direct consumer access to health care services, reducing competition in the health care industry, and raising medical costs. |
| CAOMA's position is to support the extension of the Acupuncture Board for four more years. |
| April 25 - SB 233 passed the Senate Committee 4-1 (two members were not present for initial vote). More than 400 acupuncturists, patients, students, and supporters attended a morning rally prior to the hearing. Testimony against the bill was strong, but ignored. Senator Figueroa indicated that she would amend the bill to conform with the diagnosis description in AB 1113, but also indicated that she would accept a CMA amendment to limit diagnosis. Since the two offers are contradictory, we did not know which one she would honor, until the amendements were printed. |
| Current Status: Sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. CAOMA is organizing opposition in that committee and on the Senate Floor. |
| CAOMA Position: To oppose SB 233, unless amended to extend the operation of the Acupuncture Board and to properly define diagnosis to conform with AB 1113. |
| How to Oppose: |
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Call, write and fax a letter, and e-mail your position on SB 233 to your elected legislators, stating your reasons. Keep your letter to one page only. |
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Join, participate, and contribute to CAOMA's Legislative Action Committee, to help us rally legislative opposition against this bill, and get the author to amend it. |
| Sample Letter Opposing SB 233 |
| Link to SB 233 - Official California Legislative Information website |