An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 1330) to Chapter 3 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.
Summary
AB 304 would create a new Clinical Laboratory Training Grant Program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information, to be administered in coordination with the State Department of Public Health. The program could award grants, when and if the Legislature appropriates money for that purpose, to approved clinical training programs that prepare clinical laboratory scientists or medical laboratory technicians. Eligible programs must either be approved by the State Department of Public Health or accredited by a recognized accrediting program approved by that department.
The bill is aimed at expanding training capacity in a field the Legislature says has growing workforce demand and too few educational opportunities. It also requires any grantee to spend the awarded funds within three years, which is intended to ensure the money is used promptly for training purposes. The measure adds a new article to the Business and Professions Code and ties the grant program to existing state oversight of clinical laboratory training.
Impact
AB 304 would add Article 8 (commencing with Section 1330) to Chapter 3 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, creating a state grant authority for clinical laboratory training programs. It would not itself appropriate funds, but would authorize the Department of Health Care Access and Information to establish and operate the program once the Legislature provides an appropriation. The bill would affect approved clinical laboratory scientist and medical laboratory technician training programs, and indirectly support the state’s pipeline of licensed laboratory personnel under the Department of Public Health’s existing approval and accreditation framework.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests broad support for the bill at the committee level, with a 15-0 do pass vote and recommendation to place it on the consent calendar. The bill’s findings frame it as a workforce-development measure responding to a shortage of training opportunities relative to demand for clinical laboratory personnel. No committee transcript is provided, so there is no recorded public debate in the materials supplied, but the vote pattern indicates little visible opposition at that stage.
Contention
The main policy issue is funding: the grant program would exist only upon legislative appropriation, so the bill creates authority but not a guaranteed funding stream. Another potential point of discussion is program eligibility and oversight, since grants are limited to training programs approved by the State Department of Public Health or accredited by an approved accrediting body. The three-year expenditure deadline may also matter to grantees, but no specific objections or amendments are reflected in the provided record.
An act to repeal and add Article 14 (commencing with Section 2340) of Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.
An act to add Article 10 (commencing with Section 1980) to Chapter 4 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. amend Section 84513 of the Government Code, relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.
An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 17370) to Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to business regulations.
An act to repeal and add Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 1645.4) of Chapter 4 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.
An act to add Section 2126.1 to, and to add Article 6.2 (commencing with Section 2128) to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.