Ramirez-Cardenas, J.

English

University of San Diego

REGULATORY AGENCY ACTION 61The Board reacquainted itself with theEducational Commission for ForeignVeterinary Graduates (ECFVG), admin-istered by the AVMA and endorsed bythe BEVM. California requires that for-eign veterinary graduates (FVGs) obtaina certificate from the ECFVG beforethey are eligible to take the state licen-sure examination. Candidates who wishto obtain an ECFVG certificate mustdemonstrate an ability to communicatein and understand written and spokenEnglish. Passing scores must be obtainedon the Test of English as a Foreign Lan-guage and the Test of Spoken English.FVGs must then pass the NationalBoard Examination and the ClinicalCompetency Test in veterinary medicine.Successful completion of one year ofevaluated clinical experience at a siteapproved by the ECFVG is the finalrequirement to earning a ECFVGcertificate.The Board listened to requests fromtwo state Board examination candidates,asking for a modification of the testingprocedures in order to accommodatetheir specific disabilities. The Board waspreviously aware of each candidates'special situation, and was advised of itsresponsibility to make reasonable accom-modations to each candidate. The spe-cial arrangements, as agreed to by boththe Board and the candidates themselves,were granted.The Animal Health Technician Exam-ining Committee held a public hearingat its October meeting concerning sev-eral proposed regulation changes. Onesuch change would repeal section 2066,which requires that graduates of aBoard-approved, non-two-year curricu-lum in animal health technology pass anexamination and obtain at least 1,000hours of practical experience prior toregistration as an AHT. The proposalwould eliminate the 1,000-hour require-ment. Two new eligibility categorieswould be established with the adoptionof sections 2068.5 and 2068.6. Section2068.5 would allow candidates who arecurrently working in the field as unregis-tered assistants to combine creditsobtained at local community colleges oruniversities (50 hours) with their practi-cal work experience (36 months) in orderto become eligible to sit for the AHTexamination. Section 2068.6 would en-able certified or registered animal healthtechnicians from other states or coun-tries to become eligible to sit for theAHT exam. The Committee heard oraltestimony from the public on these pro-posed changes. CVMA and students ofAHT programs expressed their opposi-tion to the repeal of the 1,000-hour workrequirement. Both groups are concernedwith maintaining the "current level ofcompetency" in the profession. Repre-sentatives of several private schools withAHT programs related their support forthe repeal of this section, claiming thatsuch a requirement is unnecessary. TheCommittee will continue its discussionof these proposed changes at futuremeetings.FUTURE MEETINGS:March 10-11 in San Jose.May 14-15 in Santa Barbara.July 7-8 in San Diego.BOARD OF VOCATIONALNURSE AND PSYCHIATRICTECHNICIAN EXAMINERSExecutive Officer: Billie Haynes(916) 445-0793This agency regulates two professions:vocational nurses and psychiatric techni-cians. Its general purpose is to admin-ister and enforce the provisions ofChapters 6.5 and 10, Division 2, of theBusiness and Professions Code. TheBoard consists of five public members,three licensed vocational nurses, twopsychiatric interns, and one licensedvocational nurse with an administrativeor teaching background. At least one ofthe Board's LVNs must have had at leastthree years'experience working in skillednursing facilities.The Board's authority vests under theDepartment of Consumer Affairs as anarm of the executive branch. It licensesprospective practitioners, conducts andsets standards for licensing examina-tions, and has the authority to grantadjudicatory hearings. Certain pro-visions allow the Board to revoke orreinstate licenses. A licensed practitioneris either an "LVN" or a "psych tech."The Board currently licenses approx-imately 68,000 LVNs and 14,000psychiatric technicians.MAJOR PROJECTS:Licensing Report. The Board releasedyear-end figures (7/ 1/85 through6/30/86) on licensing actions for voca-tional nurses and psychiatric technicians.The Board issued 5,427 new licenses and26,560 renewals to vocational nurses.The passage rate for the vocational nurseexam was 54%; 3,929 people passed theexam. The Board issued 582 new licensesand 8,983 renewals to psychiatric tech-nicians. The exam passage rate for psy-chiatric technicians was 75%; 590 peoplepassed the exam.Authorization of Program Changes.Kaiser Permanente requested that Glen-dale Community College VocationalNursing Program start a part-timevocational nursing program. Kaiserspecifically asked that the program betailored for nursing assistants who arecurrently employed at its facility. TheBoard approved the additional class forfifteen students for a part-time 79-weekprogram, which is scheduled to begin inlate 1986.The Board removed Cerritos CollegeVocational Nursing Program from itslist of accredited programs. The collegegraduated its last class in June 1984. Theprogram has not operated since that timedue to insufficient enrollment.The Board released a list of deficien-cies to United Health Careers Instituteconcerning its proposed psychiatrictechnician program. (See CRLR Vol. 6,No. 4 (Fall 1986) p. 57.) United Healthplans to rectify the deficiencies andhopefully present the revised programfor approval at the next Board meeting.United Health initiated its request onMay 27, 1986. The proposed programwould be located in San-Bernardino-andwould share classroms aiid1a spacewith United Health's accredited voca-tional nursing program. The initial classenrollment requested is fifteen students.The Board approved Pacific CoastCollege's request to allow thirty studentsinto its part-time vocational nursingprogram four times per year. The firstclass under this program commenced inOctober 1986.National Council of State Boards ofNursing Report. The National Council'sDelegate Assembly asked its Examina-tion Committee to review and revise theNCLEX-RN test. The Assembly autho-rized a one-year continuing job analysisof entry-level registered nurses duringfiscal year 1988. The California Boardplans to provide the National Councilwith input concerning these issues. TheBoard referred the study to its EducationSubcommittee for monitoring.The National Council also proposedinstituting pass-fail scoring on theexams. Those who pass would receivenotice that they passed, while those whofailed would receive a numerical score.This change will prevent the test scoresfrom being used as a basis for hiring. TheCalifornia Board referred the issue to itsExamination Subcommittee for a policydecision. The Board plans to submitfeedback to the National Council onthe issue.The California Regulatory Law Reporter Vol. 7, No. 1 (Winter 1987)1(6) REGULATORY AGENCY ACTIONPsychiatric Workers' New Union.Judge Blubaugh, an administrative lawjudge, ruled that psychiatric techniciansin state mental hospitals may be repre-sented by a newly-formed independentpublic employees union. The new union,California Association of PsychiatricTechnicians, replaces the Communica-tion Workers of America.LEGISLATION:SB 1638 (Greene) is scheduled forDEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLICBEVERAGE CONTROLDirector: Jay Stroh(916) 445-3221The Department of Alcoholic Bever-age Control (ABC) is a constitutionally-authorized state department. The Alco-holic Beverage Control Act vests theDepartment with the exclusive right andpower to license and regulate the manu-facture, sale, purchase, possession, andtransportation of alcoholic beverageswithin the state. In addition, the Actvests the Department with authority,subject to certain federal laws, to regu-late the importation and exportation ofalcoholic beverages across state lines.ABC issues liquor licenses and investi-gates violations of the Business and Pro-fessions Code and other criminal actswhich occur on premises where alcoholis sold. Many of the disciplinary actionstaken by ABC, along with other infor-mation concerning the Department, areprinted in the liquor industry tradepublications "Beverage Bulletin" and"Beverage Industry News."ABC divides the state into two div-isions with assistant directors incharge of each division. The state isfurther subdivided into 21 districts, withtwo districts maintaining branch offices.MAJOR PROJECTS:Alcohol Abuse Programs. ABC hasrecently formulated several strategies tofight alcohol abuse. One such strategyinvolves limitations on promotionssponsored by breweries aimed at collegecampuses. Another major focus will beon increased training programs forservers of alcoholic beverages. ABC hassupported enforcement teams consistingof ABC officials and local police, areintroduction this session, and wouldcreate a Certified Nurse Assistant pro-gram. The bill would prohibit peoplefrom holding themselves out as certifiednurse assistants unless they have a cer-tificate from the Board. The proposedeffective date is June 30, 1987.FUTURE MEETINGS:To be announced.method which ABC plans to continueand expand.Aside from public health and welfarematters, ABC is also involved in eco-nomic regulation. ABC, along with theU.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, andFirearms, has developed a coordinatedprogram to enforce regulations whichban wholesaling of alcoholic beveragesby retailers.Public Hearings. Senate ConcurrentResolution 65 (Russell) requested thatABC conduct hearings on the elimina-tion of specified marketing practiceswhich promote the overconsumption ofalcoholic beverages. The Resolutionasked that ABC consider the adoption ofrules to prohibit these practices andreport to the legislature on the results ofany action taken. Pursuant to this reso-lution, ABC conducted its first hearingon December 17 in Sacramento. ABCwill schedule the next hearing in LosAngeles and a third hearing in San Fran-cisco, if necessary.LEGISLATION:SB 1546 (Beverly), now law, providesthat no license or permit is required forthe serving of alcoholic beverages in alimousine by any person operating alimousine service regulated by the. PublicUtilities Commission, provide there is noextra charge or fee for the alcoholicbeverages.SB 124 (Mello), introduced Decem-ber 30, would prohibit any personlicensed by ABC from importing wineinto California that was produced out-side the United States unless that personcertifies that each shipment of winemeets the requirements of the ShermanFood, Drug and Cosmetic Law.BANKING DEPARTMENTSuperintendent: Louis Carter(415) 557-3232The State Banking Departmentadministers all laws applicable to cor-porations engaging in the commercialbanking or trust business, including theestablishment of state banks and trustcompanies; the establishment, operation,relocation and discontinuance of varioustypes of offices of these entities; and theestablishment, operation, relocation anddiscontinuance of various types of offi-ces of foreign banks. The superintend-ent, the chief officer of the Department,is appointed by and holds office at thepleasure of the Governor.The superintendent approves applica-tions for authority to organize andestablish a corporation to engage in thecommercial banking or trust business. Inacting upon the application, the superin-tendent must consider:(1) the character, reputation and finan-cial standing of the organizers or incor-porators and their motives in seeking toorganize the proposed bank or trustcompany;(2) the need for banking or trust facili-ties in the proposed community;(3) the ability of the community tosupport the proposed bank or trustcompany, considering the competitionoffered by existing banks or trust com-panies; the previous banking history ofthe community; opportunities for profit-able use of bank funds as indicated bythe average demand for credit; thenumber of potential depositors; thevolume of bank transactions; and thestability, diversity and size of the busi-nesses and industries of the community.For trust companies, the opportunitiesfor profitable employment of fiduciaryservices are also considered;(4) the character, financial responsi-bility, banking or trust experience andbusiness qualifications of the proposedofficers; and(5) the character, financial responsibil-ity, business experience and standing ofthe proposed stockholders and directors.The superintendent may not approveany application unless he/she determinesthat the public convenience and advan-tage will be promoted by the estab-lishment of the proposed bank or trustcompany; conditions in the locality ofthe proposed bank or trust companyafford reasonable promise of successfuloperation; the bank is being formed forlegitimate purposes; the proposed namedoes not so closely resemble as to causeconfusion the name of any other bank orThe California Regulatory Law Reporter Vol. 7, No. 1 (Winter 1987)3BUSINESS ANDTRANSPORTATION AGENCY

Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners

https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2943&context=crlr

Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of San Diego