Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program: requirements.

Existing law governs professions and vocations that are regulated by various boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including the Medical Board of California and the Dental Board of California. Existing law requires those boards to require a licensee, at the time of issuance of a license, to provide specified federal taxpayer information, including the applicant's social security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Existing law prohibits a licensing board from processing an application for an initial license unless the applicant provides that information where requested on the application. Existing law, the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, allows licensed physicians and dentists from Mexico to be issued a license by the Medical Board of California or a permit by the Dental Board of California to practice medicine or dentistry in California for a period not to exceed 3 years and establishes requirements for the participants in the program, as specified. This bill would, for purposes of the pilot program, notwithstanding the above-described requirements to provide specified federal taxpayer information, require the Medical Board of California to issue a 3-year nonrenewable license to an applicant who has not provided an individual taxpayer identification number or social security number if the applicant meets specified conditions. This bill would require the applicant, pursuant to these conditions, to immediately seek an appropriate 3-year visa and social security number from the federal government within 14 days of being issued the medical license and immediately provide the medical board with their social security number within 10 days of issuance of that card by the federal government. The bill would prohibit the applicant from engaging in the practice of medicine until the board determines that these conditions have been met. The bill would require the board to notify the applicant of their eligibility to practice medicine if the board determines the applicant has met these conditions. This bill would also authorize the Medical Board of California to extend the 3-year nonrenewable license period under specified circumstances, including during the timeframe in which a licensee is unable to work due to an ongoing medical condition or due to a delay in the visa application process, subject to providing sufficient documentation to the board for the extension. The bill would require the board, upon receipt of documentation from the licensee, to grant an extension for the timeframe in which the licensee was unable to work if that board determines that the licensee has satisfied the requirements for an extension. The bill would authorize the medical board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to expend funds to cover staffing costs of monitoring the extensions, as specified.