Physician Health and Wellness Program.

Section 2340(a) now explicitly includes 'allied health care professionals licensed by the board' alongside physicians and surgeons, expanding who can participate in the program beyond just MDs and DOs.

Section 2341(b) limits the exemption from the Uniform Standards Regarding Substance-Abusing Healing Arts Licensees to 'voluntary participants' only, meaning non-voluntary participants (e.g., those under probation orders) must still comply with those standards.

Sections 2342(e) and (f) remove the condition that student services be provided only 'if sufficient resources are available,' making access for students mandatory rather than discretionary based on funding.

Section 2342(c) replaces the requirement to 'identify and use a national treatment resource network' with a requirement to establish agreements with a treatment resource network that includes in-person and telehealth options, plus a new obligation to evaluate the effectiveness of those resources.

Section 2348(c)(1)(A) simplifies the requirement for non-licensed advisory committee members from a multi-clause provision to a single requirement: at least one member not licensed by the board who is knowledgeable in a board-recognized field relating to substance use disorders, mental illness, or physical illness.

Expanded the population covered from physicians and surgeons only to include allied health care professionals licensed by the board, applicants, prospective applicants, trainees, and students.

Broadened conditions addressed from substance abuse alone to all impairing or potentially impairing physical or mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, mental illness, physical illness, and disruptive behavior.

Excluded the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and its licensees, applicants, prospective applicants, students, and trainees from the program's applicability.

Added 16 defined terms including 'administering entity,' 'impaired,' 'mental illness,' 'physical illness,' 'disruptive behavior,' 'participant,' 'voluntary participant,' 'trainee,' 'student,' and 'prospective applicant.'

Required the administering entity to be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with expertise in impairment and rehabilitation, including at least one medical director board certified in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry.

Required licensees to report another licensee's name and contact information to the administering entity or board if they believe in good faith that the other licensee may be impaired, with the referring individual's identity protected.

Authorized the board to establish advisory committees with at least three members (including at least one non-licensee knowledgeable in substance use disorders, mental illness, or physical illness), with specific duties including evaluating licensees for program referral, reviewing participant information, and holding periodic open public meetings.

Exempted voluntary participants from the Uniform Standards Regarding Substance-Abusing Healing Arts Licensees, while requiring those under probation orders to still comply with their probation terms.

Made program records confidential and exempt from the California Public Records Act, with limited exceptions for defending program professionals in civil/administrative actions and records provided to the board as required by law.

Provided civil immunity for persons who in good faith report information or take action under the program, including the administering entity, board, committees, their members and employees, reporting individuals, and treatment professionals. Courts are encouraged to sanction bad-faith claims by participants.

Renamed the 'Physician and Surgeon Health and Wellness Program Account' to 'Physician Health and Wellness Program Account,' authorized the board to seek and use grant funds and gifts from public or private sources, and required annual reporting of fund amounts and sources to the Legislature.

Changed the fiscal committee designation from 'no' to 'yes' and the state-mandated local program designation from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting that the bill now imposes actual costs and mandates on local agencies.

Added legislative findings under Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution justifying the limitation on public access to records, stating it is in the public interest to limit disclosure to encourage participation and ensure safe practice of medicine.

The civil liability immunity for persons who report information or take action in good faith under the bill now includes an 'except as specified' carve-out, meaning the immunity is no longer absolute and can be limited in certain circumstances defined elsewhere in the bill.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires review and approval by the Assembly Fiscal Committee before passage.

The state-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' formally classifying the bill as imposing a state-mandated local program, which triggers specific constitutional reimbursement obligations under Article XIII B of the California Constitution.