[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6571961,"mediaKeyId","3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f","parentId",3071390,"title","Votes at a glance: California Physician Assistant Board takes positions on several bills and regulatory packages","audioSeconds",206,"startMs",8204000,"endMs",8410000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f&start=8204&end=8410","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f/thumbnail_8204000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571961/California/Votes-at-a-glance-California-Physician-Assistant-Board-takes-positions-on-several-bills-and-regulatory-packages","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571961-234f3868e540c5e25e5a9d617eb07167/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989561&Signature=EZutBUJXe1jPZM1cyEIQRoHgxt-qmRAUEBxNQXG4qB8u8l3WAHWa36mp3~IlekmM8s17OzziOZcG3fcpHdAo8HmRB5o76TALovsleFvdq37RnJkU2g7JZu-6pBrZgOobP4AdfCZGnPKyB09g-0bYa5~O8jXZND6o4nbBO7wm6JQ0nu6h1XUKagQ7gVpdoNWUEBmXS0bxqmo4C-xuMGxRC2AWY2jCh1afohDE51FHaeIMvsLWc3RYtzE7dXAjrhgDLtxjneJrNsWOFrI5tkQfcAIgxgAPSQGsnk-j0QHImedRqL8Li7y9Vhjdhjz~uhcG0bJVV-1CohK6elmElYIT5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Respiratory Care Board of California","date","2025-04-21T20:18:56.26Z","article","Key items the board voted on or recorded positions for at the April 21 meeting:

- AB 447 (Emergency department dispensing of unused portions of certain medications to discharged patients): Board position — Support (motion passed by roll call). The bill would allow hospital prescribers to dispense certain non‑controlled unused portions of medications (examples cited in packet: eye drops, inhalers, liquid antibiotics) to continue patient treatment and reduce waste. The board recorded an affirmative vote on a motion to support.

- AB 479 (procedures for vacator relief where conviction arose from victimization): Board position — Watch. The board agreed to gather more information about the notification mechanism to licensing boards before taking a formal position.

- AB 489 (use of deceptive professional titles by AI / generative AI disclaimers): Board position — Watch. Board members asked staff to request further details from the bill author and to track amendments; members noted the issue intersects with fast‑evolving AI use in health care and raised enforcement and resource questions.

- AB 667 (permit interpreters for licensing exams for applicants with limited English proficiency): Board position — Oppose unless amended (motion passed by roll call). Board members expressed concern about how the proposal would interact with national examinations (the board currently specifies a national certification exam for PAs) and the practical and regulatory implications of requiring third‑party exam vendors to provide interpreters unless a carve‑out is added.

- AB 742 (DCA licensing priority for descendants of American slavery if certification process exists): Board position — Oppose. Board members noted existing application processing timelines and raised concerns about prioritizing on the statutory basis proposed.

- SB 470 (Bagley‑Keene teleconferencing extension for state bodies): Board position — Support (motion passed by roll call). The measure would extend, through 2030, the current teleconferencing flexibilities the board has been using, preserving hybrid/remote meeting authority and committee virtual meeting options.

- SB 641 (DCA and Department of Real Estate emergency waivers and exemptions): Board position — Watch. Members asked staff to follow implementation issues and potential regulatory costs; staff noted implementation details would require follow‑up if the bill proceeds.

Also relevant regulatory updates and non‑voted items:

- Initial license fee increase regulatory package: the board voted previously to initiate the fee increase package; agency approval was recorded and the notice was filed with the Office of Administrative Law for public comment; the public comment period was open and scheduled to close May 5, 2025.

- SB 697 and other pending regulatory packages: staff reported some rulemaking packages are on hold pending statutory changes or further agency review.

Why this matters: the board’s stated positions influence legislative outcomes and reflect its public‑protection priorities; several bills discussed have direct implications for licensing, discipline, public access to care and meeting operations.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Physician Assistant Board Meeting- April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 21 meeting the board voted or recorded positions on multiple bills and on a retired‑status rulemaking initiation; key outcomes and short rationales follow.","taxTitle","Respiratory Care Board of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",76751,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6571965,"PA Board initiates rulemaking to tighten retired‑status reactivation, requires fingerprint checks for reentry within five years",728,6964000,7692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f&start=6964&end=7692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f/thumbnail_6964000.jpg","/articles/6571965/California/PA-Board-initiates-rulemaking-to-tighten-retiredstatus-reactivation-requires-fingerprint-checks-for-reentry-within-five-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571965-bf38dba90c452c4812a2af86565af3a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989561&Signature=kZagwJTjK-TP2qzXnzAUKDrXPaTQ6GAUzs4Ee-~y6G~xPQI3NBZ6z9wSQ93TJ8k3Gdp~4aerNLGhLNH6loSd9CS86q5sA5s8T5Eh76iYkFOQ81rd-4dbGpqk6HNh0rcO0rsnZZ6teIp0M2LNljRLHpGxBwdpTHeSNvzarI86HOAMnVZMRcvdtXqX4aTJ4wb8D5suStu2ZLvonhlcajW7wwXfyOCkZyQJ5wG1J7rgRyC17VXtf9~~pGoUnqf57YCTQnynfCcPbXiNW4xrpRi3PlNiNYXYyDgAnwY7o1NS9V~xj9OBAsWDZWQcyFJlKH1T2oZfmsG8b3yjw6RFGoAllQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 21 meeting the California Physician Assistant Board voted to initiate a rulemaking package to amend Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 1399.515, governing retired‑status licenses and reactivation requirements.

The revised language approved by the board would limit restoration of a retired license to within five years of issuance, consistent with Business and Professions Code section 3526 provisions for cancelled licenses, retain a fingerprinting requirement for reactivation but clarify that the board will request fingerprints only if they are not already on file with the Department of Justice, and repeal an obsolete one‑year waiver that had allowed some canceled licensees a fee‑free path to retired status during a 2019–2020 window.

Christy Shields, regulations counsel, described the text changes: \"This requirement ensures currency of knowledge for those who reenter practice after being retired for years,\" she said while explaining the five‑year limit and cleanup edits to the retired‑status application.

Board counsel and staff also noted that the proposed rule updates the form incorporated by reference (to an April 2025 version), removes gendered language and obsolete grandfathering language, and clarifies that applicants who have been retired for longer than five years may apply for a new license under the initial‑licensure regulation rather than restoring a retired license.

The board adopted the motion to rescind the previously approved text (attachment 2 in the packet) and to initiate rulemaking on the revised language in attachment 1. The motion was adopted by roll call; the board recorded eight affirmative votes.

Action (formal): the board recorded the motion to initiate rulemaking and a roll‑call adoption. No immediate fee or regulatory change took effect — the vote starts the formal administrative rulemaking process that will go to DCA and the Office of Administrative Law for review.

Why it matters: the changes are designed to strengthen public protection by ensuring that individuals who return to practice after a period in retired status undergo criminal‑history screening and meet return‑to‑practice currency expectations, and by removing obsolete regulatory language.

Next steps: staff will transmit the draft rule package through the Department of Consumer Affairs review channels and the agency's required economic and fiscal analyses before it proceeds to public notice and the Office of Administrative Law.

","The board voted April 21 to begin rulemaking that would require retired physician assistants seeking to reactivate within five years to be fingerprinted for DOJ criminal‑history checks, remove an expired grandfathering clause, and update the retired‑status application form.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6571969,"Licensing growth, complaint volumes and enforcement backlog highlighted to California Physician Assistant Board",676,3804000,4480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f&start=3804&end=4480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f/thumbnail_3804000.jpg","/articles/6571969/California/Licensing-growth-complaint-volumes-and-enforcement-backlog-highlighted-to-California-Physician-Assistant-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571969-0d95047b5cc627d9e42518a67db3fa01/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989561&Signature=A~EWBGHVVi9Tlw3Evi0MVQ-JqwG5QePxFJJiHBTMJYQZ3jZqv7a94Dxs8Ohi8nuK0UoXKX3ZxUxr7iU5C6njGltolg3SrMqBZ74WuJzB3TOYqiXeRphDPjfA9KDlD51tcoi2lssAJxAAOD7GLOyor8xBwh-k2Y3zQIRoXS3uryQ80ShlvjegDa1f0XlVPoxi6MtuRQXmArzMkxnrSv7MNncCaagVcidv0Pz6GGsr7SZW~Rl02T~d8SCBGpY2NBenrXHyTdXSB8bPq7wJgJWmd0UuKoOHXrD4JW1sHOfEEvfO6IS5-CTJxqsFh5t1tDpHPDDaDCW-W5E4KuOQvCIzMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 21 meeting, licensing and enforcement staff for the California Physician Assistant Board reported steady growth in licensees and persisting enforcement workload pressures.

Julie Caldwell, lead licensing analyst, told the board the number of licensees in current status was 19,007 and that the total number of license records across all statuses stood at 27,970. Between Oct. 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, staff approved 1,117 initial licenses, received 1,094 initial applications and processed 4,396 renewals. Caldwell said the average licensing timeline is roughly a 30‑ to 45‑day window when routine documentation is provided, with an initial application review target of 30 days.

On enforcement, Linda Serrano, complaint analyst, reported 134 complaints in quarter 2 and 162 in quarter 3 for a combined 296 complaints in that six‑month window; the grand total of complaints received for those two quarters was reported as 320 when convictions and arrests were included. Serrano said 67 complaints were referred for investigation in the same period and that the average age of pending investigations was about 187 days, with 19 investigations older than eight months.

Discipline staff provided related metrics. Christina LaForte, discipline analyst, reported that citation issuance increased (10 citations in quarter 2 and 25 in quarter 3) and provided updated fine totals. LaForte said formal accusations and petitions were filed in the reporting quarters; outcomes included probation, public reprovals and some revocations or surrenders.

Probation monitoring reported steady movement in caseloads. Virginia Gerard, probation monitor, said the board ended the reported period with 33 active probationers and five that were tolling (not currently practicing in California). Gerard noted that successful completions can be withheld from reporting if fines or financial obligations remain outstanding.

Board discussion and follow-up: Vice President Juan Armenta asked licensing staff to provide comparative state data on PA population growth; staff said the NCCPA publishes state‑by‑state data and agreed to submit that dataset for board review. Board members requested more detail about enforcement aging and the resources needed to reduce investigation backlogs. The licensing team also explained the Breeze application system and that applicants may hold many out‑of‑state licenses, sometimes slowing verification timelines.

No formal regulatory actions were taken on these reports; board members directed staff to supply the comparative data requested and to continue reporting standard performance metrics.

","Staff reported that California now has about 19,000 active physician assistant licensees and described complaint and enforcement trends, including rising investigation aging and enforcement costs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6571974,"Physician Assistant Board hears fund-condition briefing; months in reserve projected to decline",247,1901000,2148000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f&start=1901&end=2148","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071390-acb5d844974ba7265f3f4f48cda21c6f/thumbnail_1901000.jpg","/articles/6571974/California/Physician-Assistant-Board-hears-fund-condition-briefing-months-in-reserve-projected-to-decline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571974-1d49e291cf20837c2b1750ad1951a4fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989561&Signature=ctGnyDPmdlglv6YIttdl~FZz00x8pvSLpNKTeleBXIAOHEmevMA7yx3YrQzNwDqmd9iha~tTnqsXX3dxXAyysd0CmlGgbjG4dZb3T5v4LEg8iERsYew8z8QSyRRShpeOWwf0xVOwG9TwU8Z6hUIJ3XO01TuNmGS1e2WILY8LHUBKTARB2js8RN2Qg6ErWF6SZu9N55dgasG1rG~45Qs1DPzD9aKmPwWyS5nznLlUsIi802U0eaQBf5gUzwhp8WXuTB0ivrZXaBTSAUbgEZGBQiboq8-ETwF9Ob0PRGyURgyths9kf2lG8OjQOlkON8cIBAFsTwj92ZHQeHRfdl23ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 21 meeting, the California Physician Assistant Board received a fund-condition briefing from the Department of Consumer Affairs budget staff outlining current-year revenue and expenditure projections and a five-year outlook.

The budget office presented an FM8 projection that estimates $1,511,000 in personnel services and about $2,334,000 in other operating expenses for a total estimated expenditure of about $3,795,000 this fiscal year, creating a surplus of “about $1,000 or under 1%,” Andrew Trudy, budget analyst, told the board. The office projected year‑end revenues of about $3,188,000 against an estimated revenue budget of $3,013,000.

The presentation placed the board’s adjusted beginning balance for the current fiscal window at roughly $3,920,000 and projected a fund balance of about $3,135,000 by year‑end — a level the budget office said represents roughly 11.3 months in reserve. The budget office cautioned that months in reserve decline in out years under the office’s baseline because revenues are projected to remain flat while personnel and retirement costs are increased by an assumed ongoing 3% escalation.

Why it matters: the board’s reserves provide a financial buffer for licensing, enforcement and other functions. Board members flagged enforcement costs as a key pressure point; the budget office said enforcement expenditures and personnel-cost adjustments are the main drivers of projected increases.

Board members pressed staff on assumptions and contingency plans. “It is not included any fee increases,” Trudy said when asked whether projected revenues included prospective fee changes. Vice President Juan Armenta asked staff to distribute any data they plan to use for August deliberations well ahead of time so the board can review it. Trudy said the budget office will continue to provide monthly expenditure-projection reports.

Board members also asked about two augmentations referenced in the packet: roughly $193,000 described as Attorney General (AG) augmentation to cover enforcement‑related legal costs, and about $375,000 reported as additional augmentation tied to increased allied‑health enforcement activity. Trudy explained both augmentations were requested this year to offset higher enforcement spending.

No formal board action was taken beyond accepting the briefing and requesting continued monthly updates from the budget office.

Looking ahead: budget staff said any future legislation or significant unanticipated events could increase pressure on the fund and that the office will keep the board informed of changes to assumptions or May Revise updates.

","Department of Consumer Affairs budget staff told the California Physician Assistant Board on April 21 that current-year projections show a narrow surplus but projected reserves decline over the next several years unless spending or revenue assumptions change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: California Physician Assistant Board takes positions on several bills and regulatory packages

PA Board initiates rulemaking to tighten retired‑status reactivation, requires fingerprint checks for reentry within five years

Licensing growth, complaint volumes and enforcement backlog highlighted to California Physician Assistant Board

Physician Assistant Board hears fund-condition briefing; months in reserve projected to decline