SB 525 — Respiratory care practice.

Summary

Existing law, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of respiratory therapy by the Respiratory Care Board of California. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law declares it is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the existence of overlapping functions between physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, physical therapists, respiratory care practitioners, and other licensed health care personnel, and to permit additional sharing of functions within organized health care systems, as specified. Existing law also states that nothing in the act shall be construed to authorize a respiratory care practitioner to practice medicine, surgery, or any other form of healing, except as authorized by the act. This bill, for intent purposes, would define "overlapping functions" to include providing therapy, management, rehabilitation, diagnostic evaluation, and care for nonrespiratory-related diagnoses or conditions provided certain requirements are met. Under existing law, respiratory care as a practice means a health care profession employed under the supervision of a medical director in the therapy, management, rehabilitation, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities which affect the pulmonary system and associated aspects of cardiopulmonary and other systems functions, and includes, among other things, direct and indirect pulmonary care services that are safe, aseptic, preventive, and restorative to the patient. Existing law provides for the registration and regulation of certified polysomnographic technologists by the Medical Board of California. Under existing law governing polysomnographic technologists, the practice of polysomnography is defined to include the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control, education, and care of patients with sleep and wake disorders. Existing law governing polysomnographic technologists exempts from those provisions, among others, respiratory care practitioners working within the scope of practice of their license. This bill would provide that associated aspects of cardiopulmonary and other systems functions includes patients with deficiencies and abnormalities affecting the heart and cardiovascular system. The bill would further define the respiratory care practice to include, among other things, the administration of medical gases and pharmacological agents for the purpose of inducing conscious or deep sedation under specified supervision and direct orders, all forms of specified life support, and the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control, education, and care of patients with sleep and wake disorders. By changing the definition of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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

• Chaptered 09/02/15 - Chaptered Current pdf September 02, 2015
• Enrolled 08/24/15 - Enrolled pdf August 24, 2015
• Amended 06/16/15 - Amended Assembly pdf June 16, 2015
• Amended 04/06/15 - Amended Senate pdf April 06, 2015
• Introduced 02/26/15 - Introduced pdf February 26, 2015
• SB525 View text html

Action History

1. September 02, 2015

   Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 247, Statutes of 2015.

2. September 02, 2015

   Approved by the Governor.

3. August 26, 2015

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.

4. August 20, 2015

   Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

5. August 19, 2015

   Ordered to special consent calendar.

6. July 16, 2015

   In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

7. July 16, 2015

   Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2433.) Ordered to the Senate.

8. July 09, 2015

   Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

9. July 08, 2015

   From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (July 8).

10. June 23, 2015

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

11. June 16, 2015

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

12. June 15, 2015

    June 16 hearing postponed by committee.

13. May 18, 2015

    Referred to Com. on B. & P.

14. April 30, 2015

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

15. April 30, 2015

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 843.) Ordered to the Assembly.

16. April 28, 2015

    Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

17. April 27, 2015

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.

18. April 17, 2015

    Set for hearing April 27.

19. April 14, 2015

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 591.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

20. April 06, 2015

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

21. March 18, 2015

    Set for hearing April 13.

22. March 12, 2015

    Referred to Com. on B., P. & E.D.

23. February 27, 2015

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 29.

24. February 26, 2015

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

Sponsors

• Nielsen · Primary

Votes

Subjects