Hooray! Congratulations!...AB 356 (Fletcher)
Signed into Law by the Governor!
by Beth Grivett, PA-C
Legislative Affairs Coordinator

Those of you working in interventional radiology, orthopedics and pain management are one step closer to a better practice environment. AB 356 (Fletcher) was signed by the Governor on October 11, 2009. A few amendments have been taken to clarify language and the bill is very specific to fluoroscopy. Effective January 1, 2010, PAs who wish to obtain a fluoroscopy permit will need to take a 40 hour course in fluoroscopy radiation safety and pass an exam administered by the Radiologic Health Branch in order to be licensed to use fluoroscopy during procedures in the State of California. Our thanks go out to Assemblyman Fletcher and his staff for working so diligently on this bill and to the Radiologic Health Branch and the Radiation Technologists for taking the time to learn more about the PA profession and to understand our partnership with physicians especially at it relates to interventional radiology. With their help and the work of our lobbyist, Bryce Docherty, we have made tremendous gains toward knocking down yet another barrier to practice as we get closer to an ideal practice environment for PAs in California.

Hooray! Congratulations!….SB 171 (Pavley)
Signed into Law by the Governor!
by David Carter, PA-C
CAPA Government Affairs Committee

SB 171 (Pavley), a bill sponsored by CAPA on your behalf that adds PAs to the list of providers able to sign employment physicals for those persons applying for a job in a school district, has completed its journey through the California State Legislature.  Having started in the Senate in February 2009, it made its way through various committees in both houses.

The bill passed through State Assembly on June 24th and, after consideration of the amendments it picked up along its journey in the Assembly, was passed by the Senate on July 16th.  The final step is signature by the governor.

Finally, on August 6, SB 171 (Pavley) was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger!

CAPA would like to thank Senator Pavley for authoring this bill and for the work she and her staff performed to help the Physician Assistants in California continue the excellent care we provide to patient’s all across this state.  We offer a special thank you to CAPA’s Legislative Advocate, Bryce Docherty, for his diligent work on our behalf. 

CAPA particularly thanks all of you, the CAPA members and Physician Assistants of California, who wrote, called or spoke with your legislators on this issue and who responded to CAPA “Calls to Action.”  Our “voices” do make a difference.  Please continue to be a “voice” for our profession and stay in contact with your state legislators on a regular basis so that we can continue to be an integral part of the changing healthcare environment in California.  CAPA appreciates each of you.

This bill will take affect January 1, 2010.