CA AB 796

Title: Athletic trainers.
Author: Akilah Faizah Weber

Summary
AB 796, as amended, Weber. Athletic trainers. (1) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by regulatory boards and entities within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including athlete agents. Existing law establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs to enforce the licensing and regulatory provisions relating to physicians and surgeons.This bill would enact the Athletic Training Practice Act, which would establish, until January 1, 2028, the Athletic Trainer Registration Committee within the Medical Board of California to register athletic trainers and administer duties under the act. The bill would prohibit a person from practicing as an athletic trainer or using certain titles or terms without being registered by the committee.This bill would define the practice of athletic training. The bill would impose requirements for registration as an athletic trainer, including official verification of the applicant’s certification by a certifying entity for athletic trainers, as defined, and providing the committee with proof that the applicant passed a background check, as specified. The bill would require a supervising physician or surgeon to define the terms of the relationship with an athletic trainer and continuously maintain supervision and the ability to direct an athletic trainer, as specified.This bill would provide that an athletic trainer registration would be valid for 2 years and subject to renewal. The bill would require the committee to set and collect registration and renewal fees, as specified. The bill would require the committee to perform specified duties regarding administering registrations and performing oversight of registrants, including accepting complaints from the public. The bill would require the committee to deny or revoke the registration of a person that does not provide the committee with specified information and is not certified by a certifying entity for athletic trainers.This bill would establish the Athletic Trainers Fund for the deposit of registration and renewal fees and would make those fees available to the committee upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of implementing the act’s provisions. For the purposes of administering its provisions, the bill would require that the committee only use moneys from the Athletic Trainers Fund, except as provided. The bill would authorize the Director of Consumer Affairs to seek and receive donations from any private individual or entity for the initial costs of implementing the act, and would specify that, if private funds are unavailable, a loan from the General Fund or a special fund may be used and repaid with fee revenue. The bill would require the director to determine that sufficient funds for that purpose have been obtained and to provide notice to the Legislature, the Governor, and on the department’s internet website of the determination.(2) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Status
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D.

Bill Documents
CA AB 796 - 07/06/23 - Amended Senate
07/06/23 - CA AB 796 (07/06/23 - Amended Senate)