AMENDED
IN THE SENATE
SENIOR
SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 17
INTRODUCED
BY SENATOR DENNISON
(COAUTHORS:
SENATORS LEVY AND TRUMBLE)
(COAUTHORS:
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS GAST AND JOHNSTONE)
LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SP
17: CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION.
UNDER
EXISTING LAW, PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS MUST ESTABLISH THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED
CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AS PART OF RECEIVING A LICENSE. EXISTING LAW
ALSO REQUIRES THAT LICENSED PHYSICIANS SATISFY CONTINUING EDUCATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS AND PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A COURSE IN
GERIATRIC MEDICINE, INCLUDING GERIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY, AS PART OF THEIR
CONTINUING EDUCATION.
THIS
MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE
VOTE:
MAJORITY.
SP 17:
RELATING TO CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
WHEREAS,
57 OF 58 OF THE COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA HAVE INADEQUATE MENTAL HEALTH STAFFING AT
THIS TIME, AND IN PARTICULAR SUFFER FROM A LACK OF QUALIFIED GERIATRIC
PSYCHIATRISTS; AND
WHEREAS,
BECAUSE OF THIS SHORTAGE OF PSYCHIATRIC PRACTITIONERS, FAMILY PRACTITIONERS AND
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS ARE PRESCRIBING 80 PERCENT OF ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS AND 67
PERCENT OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS AND YET RECEIVE ONLY SIX WEEKS OF TRAINING IN THE
MENTAL HEALTH FIELD DURING THEIR RESIDENCY; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED,
BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2002 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY
OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR REQUIRE THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL BOARD TO ESTABLISH CONTINUING EDUCATION
COURSE REQUIREMENTS ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE
AND UPDATES ON PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS TO FAMILY PRACTITIONERS AND PRIMARY CARE
PROVIDERS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED,
THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
RESOLVED,
THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE
SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
RN0214678
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