California’s legislative year has launched!
Date postedFebruary 2, 2024
- CalDerm testified in the Assembly Business & Professions Committee this month in opposition to AB 1570 (Low), a two-year bill the would expand the scope of practice for optometrists to perform procedures on the eyelid and around the eye. Introduced last year, AB 1570 has been opposed by CalDerm, CMA, the ophthalmologists, and other specialties based on the minimal clinical experience that would be needed to (among other procedures) excise lesions around the eye. The committee did vote to pass to the bill on a vote of 11-3, but several the Assemblymembers who voted yes said they would be unlikely to support the bill when it came to a Floor vote. Based on that lukewarm support, the bill was held without hearing at its next stop, the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Unless introduced in a bill, the proposal has stalled for the year.
- CalDerm’s Legislative Committee will be vetting new legisltion, SB 898 (Skinner), which would require all new vehicles sold in California to be equipped with UV-filtering windows. The bill was initiated by a trio of academicians including Dr. Chris Zachery, Professor and Chair Emeritus at the UC Irvine Dermatology Dept., with the intent of reducing both the risk of melanoma as well as carbon emissions, based on improved gas mileage with less use of air conditioning. Leaders of the Legislative Committee hasve discussed the bill with Dr. Zachery, and lobbyist Don Schinske has had an initial conversation with Sen. Skinner’s office. Our colleagues AADA and ASDSA are tracking the bill closely as well. As with other bills introduced in 2024, the first hearing on SB 898 would be scheduled for mid-March or early April.
- The committee continues to discuss potential next steps on the issue title transparency and the appropriate use of specialty titles, as proposed in last year’s CalDerm co-sponsored legislation, AB 765 (Wood).
- CalDerm Legislative Co-Chair Elan Newman, MD, spoke about title transparency and other CalDerm prioirity issues last week at a wine tasting for San Diego members. CalDerm appreciates members’ engagement in our work, and we look forward to additional in-person opportunities this year to discuss our legislative activities.