CA AB 1501

enacted

Physician assistants and podiatrists.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

Description

(1) Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Podiatric Medical Board of California to license and regulate podiatrists. Existing law, the Physician Assistant Practice Act, establishes in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Physician Assistant Board to license and regulate physician assistants. Existing law repeals the provisions establishing those boards on January 1, 2026, and specifies the repeal of those provisions renders those boards subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. This bill would extend the operation of those boards until January 1, 2030. Existing law requires the board to regulate physician assistant training programs, including, among other things, through establishing guidelines for their approval and setting fees to be paid by them. This bill would remove the above-described requirements and authorizations relating to the board's regulation of physician assistant training programs. (2) Existing law makes a physician assistant licensed by the board eligible for employment or supervision by a physician and surgeon, as specified. Existing law prohibits a physician and surgeon from supervising more than 4 physician assistants at any one time, except under certain conditions. Among those exceptions, existing law authorizes a physician and surgeon to supervise up to 8 physician assistants if the physician assistants are focused solely on performing in-home health evaluations for specified purposes. This bill would increase the number of physician assistants whom a physician and surgeon may supervise at any one time to 8. The bill would make conforming changes, including removing the above-described exception for in-home health evaluations. (3) Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to use certain terms or letters indicating or implying that a person is a doctor of podiatric medicine without holding a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate to practice podiatric medicine. This bill would include in those provisions the use of the term "podiatric surgeon." The bill would state that it is the policy of this state that a doctor of podiatric medicine shall be classified or treated as a doctor of podiatric medicine and shall not be classified or treated as an ancillary provider or other allied health professional in any health care setting or insurance reimbursement structure for any purpose. (4) Existing law requires the Podiatric Medical Board of California to issue a certificate to practice podiatric medicine by credentialing if an applicant has submitted to the board from the credentialing organization verification that they are licensed as a doctor of podiatric medicine in any other state if the applicant has passed specified examinations, and requires the applicant to have passed those examinations within the past 10 years. This bill would delete the requirement that the applicant pass those examinations within the past 10 years. Existing law establishes specified fees applicable to certificates to practice podiatric medicine, including a biennial renewal fee of $1,318, a $100 fee for a duplicate wall certificate, a $50 for a duplicate renewal receipt fee, and a $30 endorsement fee. This bill would increase the biennial renewal fee to $1,900 would instead establish a $100 fee for a duplicate certificate, and would delete the duplicate renewal receipt and endorsement fees. (5) Existing law establishes various fees for physician assistants, including a $25 application fee, a $250 initial license fee, a $300 biennial license renewal fee, a $25 delinquency fee, and a $10 fee for a letter of endorsement, letter of standing, or letter of verification of licensure. This bill would instead establish a $60 application fee, a $250 initial license fee, a $300 biennial license renewal fee, a $75 delinquency fee, and a $50 fee for a letter of endorsement, letter of good standing, or letter of verification of licensure. The bill would authorize the board to increase the application fee to not more than $80, the initial license fee to not more than $500, and the biennial license renewal fee to not more than $500. (6) Under existing law, a physician assistant license expires at 12 midnight of the last day of the birth month of the licensee during the 2nd year of a 2-year term if not renewed. Existing law requires a licensee, in order to renew a license, to apply for renewal on a form provided by the board, as specified. This bill would instead require that the above-described renewal applications be made on an electronic form, or other form, provided by the board. The bill would require an application form to contain a legal verification by the applicant certifying under penalty of perjury that the information provided by the applicant is true and correct. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (7) This bill would correct cross-references and make other technical changes to the Physician Assistant Practice Act and the provisions of the Medical Practice Act applicable to podiatrists. (8) The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that a comprehensive review of practice agreements structures be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders and, in that regard, would authorize the Physician Assistant Board to collaborate, as appropriate, with the Legislature and other stakeholders to inform future policy discussions through existing processes and expertise. (9) 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.

Introduced: 2025-04-29
Status date: —
Latest action: 2025-10-01 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 194, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type: bill
Last updated: —

Subjects

Physicianassistantsandpodiatrists

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

2025-02-24
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
2025-02-25
From printer. May be heard in committee March 27.
2025-03-13
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2025-04-29
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 29).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2025-04-30
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-05-01
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
referral-committee
2025-05-14
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-05-23
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 23).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-27
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-06-02
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 1. Page 1892.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-06-03
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2025-06-11
Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
referral-committee
2025-06-25
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.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-06-26
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.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-16
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 30).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2025-07-17
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-08-18
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-08-29
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage
2025-08-29
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-09-02
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-09
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2701.).
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-09
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-10
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 1. Page 3241.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-22
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
executive-receipt
2025-10-01
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2025-10-01
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 194, Statutes of 2025.
became-law

Versions

02/24/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-24Compare
04/30/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-04-30Compare
06/25/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-25Compare
06/26/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-26Compare
07/17/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-07-17Compare
08/29/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-08-29Compare
09/12/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-12Compare
10/01/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-01Compare
AB1501Compare
(document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-29 · pass · 17-0
Member-level votes (18)
- Elhawary: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Krell: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Flora: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Chen: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Berman: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Hadwick: other
- Caloza: yes
- Bains: yes
Do pass.
2025-05-23 · pass · 13-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Calderon: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Hart: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Solache: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Fong: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Ta: other
- Sanchez: other
AB 1501 Berman Assembly Third Reading
2025-06-03 · pass · 75-1
Member-level votes (79)
- Addis: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Lee: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Krell: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Ward: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Patel: yes
- Solache: yes
- Chen: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Papan: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Fong: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Soria: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Davies: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Haney: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Hart: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Berman: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Flora: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Bains: yes
- Valencia: yes
- DeMaio: no
- Schiavo: other
- Ta: other
- Sanchez: other
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-06-30 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Arreguín: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Weber Pierson: other
- Choi: other
- Grayson: other
- Niello: other
Placed on suspense file
2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
Do pass as amended
2025-08-29 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
3rd Reading AB1501 Berman By Ashby
2025-09-09 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Richardson: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Jones: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Stern: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Becker: yes
- Alvarado-Gil: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Grove: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Laird: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Limón: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Niello: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Allen: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Choi: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Blakespear: yes
AB 1501 Berman Concurrence in Senate Amendments
2025-09-11 · pass · 76-1
Member-level votes (80)
- Ahrens: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Addis: yes
- Ward: yes
- Haney: yes
- Hart: yes
- Fong: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Bains: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Soria: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Berman: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Papan: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Lee: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Ta: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Davies: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Krell: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Patel: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Chen: yes
- Flora: yes
- Garcia: yes
- DeMaio: no
- Tangipa: other
- Sanchez: other
- Schiavo: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1501

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