(Letter faxed to all 30 California Approved Colleges)
February 27, 2002
Re: California State Assembly Bill 1943 (Chu)
Dear School President:
On February 14, 2002, Assemblywoman Judy Chu introduced California Assembly Bill 1943 on behalf of the California Acupuncturist profession, and in the best interests of California consumers. As sponsors of AB 1943, the Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations, representing all of the various language-based professional acupuncturist associations of California, has monitored the growing expectations and responsibilities of our profession, the increasing demands for consumer protection, and the comments from students and new members of our profession. We have found widespread concerns that existing acupuncture training standards fail to address the full scope of competencies that are required to enter the profession in California, and are promoting this legislation to correct the deficiencies.
Our hopes are that AB 1943 will positively affect acupuncture and Oriental medicine training programs for candidates wishing to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination after January 1, 2007, and will better assure that those candidates are prepared with the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for entry into a licensed primary health care profession with the full scope of Oriental medicine at their disposal. The focus of this bill is on education enforcement under the jurisdiction of the California Acupuncture Board.
As a California Acupuncture Board approved school, we understand that this legislation may affect your curriculum, as well as your timeline for future changes. We welcome your comments, and encourage an open dialogue relating to this bill. Out of respect for the process, and in fairness to Assembly Member Chu and all interested parties, it is our intent to host several meetings in the weeks ahead to discuss any and all expressed concerns and positions. Your objective concerns and suggestions are most important to us in regards to this legislation.
The Council has been closely monitoring the Acupuncture Board’s “Professional Competencies and Educational Outcomes Task Force.” While we had hoped that its recommendations could have been incorporated into the bill prior to its introduction, the Task Force has been methodical in its proceedings, and AB 1943 was required to be introduced now to meet Legislative deadlines. The Task Force’s deliberations remain important to this legislation, and we hope its work will be incorporated into this legislation. AB 1943 has been introduced as a compromise proposal, and we expect to recommend some changes during the course of its progress through the Legislature.
Copies of Assembly Bill 1943 are available on our website at www.acucouncil.org/ab1943.htm, or through the official California Legislative website at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Please download a copy of AB 1943, read through it, discuss it with others, formulate your concerns and suggestions, and then fax them to us, so that we may address them in a timely manner. Also, let us know if you would like to be included in future email or fax notifications, or if contact information for your school changes.
Please fax your comments to: 800-388-2928
We sincerely hope that your school will participate in this legislative effort and work for advancement in the delivery of Oriental medicine to benefit our patients, and to grow our profession and your school.
Sincerely,
Ta Fang Chen, President
cc:
California Acupuncture Board approved schools (29)
Judy Chu, Assembly Member
State Capitol, Room 5126
Sacramento, CA 95814
Steve English, Legislative Advocate
CAOMA
1044 Maryland Avenue, Suite A
West Sacramento, CA 95691
Brian Fennen, Executive Director
CAOMA
1217 Washington Street
Calistoga, CA 94515
Marilyn Neilsen, Executive Officer
California Acupuncture Board
1424 Howe Avenue, Suite 37