Osteopathic Medical Board of California: Naturopathic Medicine Committee.

(1) Existing law, the Osteopathic Act, requires the Governor to appoint 7 licensee members to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, including 5 osteopathic physicians and surgeons and 2 naturopathic doctors. This provision is repealed on January 1, 2013, at which time the licensee membership of the board will be reduced to 5 osteopathic physicians and surgeons. Existing law also requires the Governor to appoint 2 public members to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. This bill would exclude those naturopathic doctors from the membership of the board, thereby reducing the licensee membership of the board to 5 osteopathic physicians and surgeons. The bill would add 2 additional public members to the board and would require the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly to each appoint one public member. The bill would specify that public members are to receive specified per diem and expenses. (2) Existing law, the Naturopathic Doctors Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors by the Naturopathic Medicine Committee within the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. The committee consists of 3 licensed naturopathic doctors, 3 licensed physicians and surgeons, and 3 public members who are appointed by the Governor. Existing law authorizes the committee, with the approval of the board, to appoint an executive officer and authorizes the board to employ other officers and employees as necessary. This bill would change the membership of the committee to 5 licensed naturopathic doctors, 2 licensed physicians and surgeons, and 2 public members. The bill would authorize the committee to appoint an executive officer and other officers and employees as necessary. The bill would make the committee responsible for reviewing the quality of practice by licensed naturopathic doctors and solely responsible for implementing the Naturopathic Doctors Act. The bill would require protection of the public to be the highest priority for the committee.