The full text of bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments, and their status, history, votes, analyses, and veto messages are available from the California State Legislative Web site. Visit their site and insert the bill number and/or author.

AB 638 (Bass) – Loan Assumption
Creates a program which would assume the student loans up to a total of $20,000 for physician assistants who agree to work in a medically underserved area for four years

Status: Signed by the Governor and will go into effect January 1, 2009.

AB 2440 (Laird): Medi-cal Codes
This bill would require the department to annual adopt the current ICD-9 codes for timely billing and payment.

Status: Vetoed by the Governor

AB 2482 (Maze-Bass): Physician assistant continuing education
Sponsored by the PA Committee
This bill allows the PA Committee to require up to 50 hours every two years of continuing education or current NCCPA certification for renewal of the PA license.

Status: Signed by the Governor and will go into effect January 1, 2009. However, the Physician Assistant Committee must now develop regulations regarding this bill.

AB 2747 (Berg-Levine): End of Life Care
This bill would provide that when a health care provider makes a diagnosis that a patient has a terminal illness, the health care provider shall, upon the patient's request, provide the patient with comprehensive information and counseling regarding legal end-of-life options.

Status: Signed by the Governor and will go into effect January 1, 2009.

ACR 152 (Wolk) Health Care Decisions Week
Recognizes October 26 through November 1, 2008 as Health Care Decisions Week in California, and encourages all Californians to think about and talk with loved ones about their wishes for medical care.

AB 2398 (Nakanishi): Performing of cosmetic procedures
This bill would increase penalties for physicians who are providing cosmetic procedures in any setting that is not physician and surgeon-owned.

Status: Held in committee – will not move forward

AB 2968 (Carter): Cosmetic Surgery Clearance “Donda West Law”
This bill would require a physical exam including complete medical history be performed by a physician or surgeon prior to any cosmetic surgery.
The Medical Board of CA supported amendments which were subsequently added that would allow a licensed PA to perform this exam as well.

Status: Vetoed by the Governor

AB 1436 (Hernandez): Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
This bill defines collaboration as consultation with a physician and surgeon. It would have allowed NPs to admit patients to and discharge patients from inpatient facilities and change orders given by a physician and surgeon in collaboration with a physician and surgeon. It dictated that a nurse practitioner shall be independently responsible for the performance of services.

Status: Held in Committee – will not move forward

SB 1427 (Calderon): Psychologist Prescribing
This bill would have allowed psychologists to prescribe certain medications.

Status: Held in Senate Health – will not move forward