California 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 8 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 639 — Medical professionals: course requirements.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 336, Statutes of 2024.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) on September 21, 2024.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

(1) Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California and requires the board to adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of those licensees. Existing law requires general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course related to geriatric medicine or the care of older patients. This bill would revise the above-described course requirements to include the special care needs of patients with dementia. (2) Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, establishes the Board of Registered Nursing to license and regulate the practice of nursing. Existing law requires the board to establish standards for continuing education consisting of specified approved coursework. Existing law requires a licensee under the act to submit a statement to the board, under penalty of perjury, indicating compliance with those continuing education requirements. This bill would require a nurse practitioner who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to certify that they have completed at least 20% of all existing mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of gerontology, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients at the time of renewal. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law, the Physician Assistant Practice Act, establishes the Physician Assistant Board for the licensure and regulation of physician assistants. Existing law authorizes the board to require a licensee to complete specified continuing education coursework as a condition of license renewal. This bill would require a physician assistant who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients. (4) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 2811.5 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2270 and AB 2581 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 336, Statutes of 2024.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 34. Noes 3. Page 5632.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 5621.)

  6. Set for hearing August 29.

  7. From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 5416.) Re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D.

  8. Re-referred to Com. on RLS pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).

  9. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  10. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6510.) Ordered to the Senate.

  11. Ordered to third reading.

  12. Read third time and amended.

  13. Ordered to third reading.

  14. From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.

  15. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  16. From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 7).

  17. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  18. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 25).

  19. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  20. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  21. Ordered to third reading.

  22. Read third time and amended.

  23. Ordered to third reading.

  24. Action rescinded whereby bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to Senate.

  25. In Assembly. Held at Desk.

  26. Ordered to the Assembly.

  27. Ordered to inactive file on request of Senator Limón.

  28. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  29. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 3458.) Ordered to the Senate.

  30. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  31. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (September 13).

  32. Joint Rule 62(a) suspended.

  33. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  34. Ordered to third reading.

  35. Read third time and amended.

  36. Ordered to third reading.

  37. Action rescinded whereby the bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.

  38. In Assembly. Held at Desk.

  39. Ordered to the Assembly.

  40. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  41. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 2828.) Ordered to the Senate.

  42. Ordered to third reading.

  43. Read third time and amended.

  44. Ordered to third reading.

  45. Action rescinded whereby the bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.

  46. In Assembly. Held at Desk.

  47. Ordered to the Assembly.

  48. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  49. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 71. Noes 0. Page 2352.) Ordered to the Senate.

  50. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  51. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  52. From committee: Do pass as amended. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 13).

  53. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  54. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  55. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 814.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  56. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  57. From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 711.) (April 12).

  58. Set for hearing April 12.

  59. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  60. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  61. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  62. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 19.

  63. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 113 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (113)

113 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 113 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Unfinished Business SB639 Limón et al. Concurrence

Passed 34 Yea · 3 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11000
Democratic 21001
Republican 2302
Total 34303
% of votes cast 85%8%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Roth — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Newman — Yea
Min — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

That the Assembly amendments be concurred in

Passed 8 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4001
Democratic 4002
Republican 0001
Total 8004
% of votes cast 67%0%0%33%
How each member voted (12)
Member Party Vote
Eggman — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Roth — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Glazer — Not Voting
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Not Voting
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

SB 639 Limón Senate Third Reading By Alvarez

Passed 77 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 45002
Republican 13000
Unaffiliated 19000
Total 77002
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Villapudua — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Ting — Yea
Wood — Yea
Low — Yea
Holden — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Essayli — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Not Voting
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Not Voting
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass. To Consent Calendar.

Passed 14 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 9000
Republican 3000
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 14001
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Villapudua — Not Voting
Jim Patterson — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 18 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 12000
Republican 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 18000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Low — Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SB 639 Limón Senate Third Reading By Alvarez

Passed 78 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 46001
Republican 12001
Unaffiliated 20000
Total 78002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Villapudua — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Ting — Yea
Wood — Yea
Low — Yea
Holden — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Essayli — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Vince Fong — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 13 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 8002
Republican 3000
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 13003
% of votes cast 81%0%0%19%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Holden — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Not Voting
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Not Voting
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Not Voting
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 639 do?
(1) Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California and requires the board to adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of those licensees. Existing law requires general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course related to geriatric medicine or the care of older patients. This bill would revise the above-described course requirements to include the special care needs of patients with dementia. (2) Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, establishes the Board of Registered Nursing to license and regulate the practice of nursing. Existing law requires the board to establish standards for continuing education consisting of specified approved coursework. Existing law requires a licensee under the act to submit a statement to the board, under penalty of perjury, indicating compliance with those continuing education requirements. This bill would require a nurse practitioner who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to certify that they have completed at least 20% of all existing mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of gerontology, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients at the time of renewal. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law, the Physician Assistant Practice Act, establishes the Physician Assistant Board for the licensure and regulation of physician assistants. Existing law authorizes the board to require a licensee to complete specified continuing education coursework as a condition of license renewal. This bill would require a physician assistant who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients. (4) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 2811.5 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2270 and AB 2581 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors SB 639?
SB 639 is sponsored by Limón, Monique (Democratic), Blakespear, Catherine S. (Democratic), Padilla, Stephen C. (Democratic), Wahab, Aisha (Democratic), Wiener, Scott D. (Democratic), Alvarez, David (Democratic), Hoover, Josh (Republican), Nguyen, Stephanie (Democratic), and Rubio, Susan (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 639?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 639?
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