SB 962

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law provides for the licensure, registration, and regulation of clinical laboratories and various clinical laboratory personnel by the State Department of Public Health. For these purposes, existing law defines "laboratory director" and imposes prescribed requirements on those individuals, including requiring that a laboratory director for a clinical laboratory of an acute care hospital be a physician and surgeon who is a qualified pathologist, subject to specified exceptions. Existing law allows a laboratory director, if they possess certain qualifications, to perform the duties of a technical consultant, among other specified positions, or to delegate these responsibilities to persons qualified, as specified. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a crime. For purposes of a moderate-complexity laboratory, this bill would expand the definition of a "laboratory director" to include an individual who meets the College of American Pathologists guidelines. The bill would authorize an individual who meets the College of American Pathologists guidelines to operate as a technical consultant in a moderate-complexity laboratory. With respect to the above-specified exceptions concerning a laboratory director for a clinical laboratory of an acute care hospital, the bill would expand those exceptions, as specified. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.