Plain English Breakdown
The official text is truncated at section (3) regarding psychology licensing, leaving uncertainty about whether all types of psychology applicants are covered or if there are exceptions.
AB-160: Updated Background Check Rules for Medical and Psychology Licenses
This law requires medical boards to submit digital fingerprint images directly to the Department of Justice for criminal history checks instead of using paper cards or Live Scan forms.
What This Bill Does
- Requires applicants for physician, osteopathic, midwife, and psychology licenses to provide a full set of fingerprints.
- Directs licensing boards to submit digital fingerprint images directly to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
- Removes rules that allowed paper fingerprint cards or Live Scan forms just to prove identity.
- Requires the DOJ to check both state and federal criminal records for applicants.
- Allows the DOJ to charge a fee to cover the cost of processing these background checks.
Who It Names or Affects
- Applicants seeking licenses as physicians, surgeons, or osteopathic doctors in California.
- People applying for midwifery licenses regulated by the Medical Board of California.
- Psychologists and psychology associates registered with the Board of Psychology.
Terms To Know
- Live Scan
- A digital method used to collect fingerprints electronically instead of using ink and paper cards.
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- The state agency that holds criminal history records and performs background checks for the government.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text cuts off before finishing the section on psychology licensing, so full details are missing.
- The bill does not list specific dollar amounts for the fees charged by the Department of Justice.
- An effective date is not listed in the provided status information.