May 16, 2005 - Sacramento, CA - CAOMA President Michelle Lau delivered CAOMA's response to Senator Figueroa's office.

The following letter was hand-delivered to Senator Figueroa's office today, in response to last Wednesday's meeting with the Senator.

May 16, 2005

The Honorable Liz Figueroa
Chair, Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions and Consumer Protection
California State Legislature
Sacramento, CA   95814

Re:    Proposed Amendments to SB 233

Dear Senator Figueroa:

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the discussion you had with us on Wednesday, May 11.

Since then, we have discussed in great detail your proposed amendments to SB 233 with our Board and many others in our profession.  After much deliberation, we must respectfully inform you that we will continue to oppose your bill unless it is amended to:

1.    Extend the California Acupuncture Board sunset date another two or more years.
2.    Mirror diagnosis language currently found in AB 1113 and your committee’s report:
     “to diagnose within his or her scope of practice,” without any qualifications.

Furthermore, we stand opposed to your other proposals:

1.    To reduce the number of professional members on the Board, or increase the number of public members on the Board..

2.    To give anyone other than the Board control over the selection and hiring of an Executive Officer.

Our opposition to these latter proposals rests in the facts that these proposals are unjustified. Even the Dental Board, which you cite as an example of effective reform, is not held to these unusual standards.

We hope that you will seriously consider our amendments, and will be pleased to work with you to move them forward.

Sincerely,



Michelle Lau, LAc

President

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