Assembly Committee to Decide June 28 Whether NP Measure Advances

Held in the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions for nearly a year, Senate Bill 323 faces a major milestone on Tuesday, June 28, when the committee will determine whether the bill advances to the next step in the legislative process.

CANP members and allies are urged to utilize our online Action Center to express your support for the bill to members of the committee (see details below).

Co-authored by Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) and Assemblymember Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), the measure would remove the physician supervision requirement that prevents nurse practitioners in California from practicing to the full extent of their education, experience and expertise.  Currently, 21 other states and the District of Columbia have adopted “full practice authority” legislation for NPs.  Two other states and the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs are on the verge of joining that group.

SB 323 was initially heard by the same committee on June 30, 2015, when it failed passage by a vote of 4-9.  The measure was subsequently designated as a two-year bill, making it eligible for reconsideration by the same committee. Previously, the bill had gained approval from two Senate committees and was approved by the full Senate on May 7, 2015 by a vote of 25-5.

In the year since the last vote on the bill, CANP leaders and legislative advocates have been in ongoing contact with legislators and stakeholders to work to overcome resistance to the measure, and to seek resolution to the additional policy issues relating to the ban on the corporate practice of medicine and regulatory oversight that have been raised by segments of the physician community in opposition.

The current committe roster has changed since the 2015 vote after reassignments by new Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) ,who succeeded Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) earlier this year. Among the changes was the appointment of Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) as the new committee chair.

Take Action Today

In anticipation of the hearing, CANP has launched a grassroots outreach campaign utilizing its online Action Center. The Action Center enables CANP members and allies to send pre-written messages to legislators directly via email, Facebook and Twitter.  In the first week of the campaign, nearly 700 online activists combined to send more than 1,500 messages of support to members of the committee.

All supporters of removing practice barriers for California NPs are encouraged to participate in the online campaign between now June 28.