SB 1246 Summary

• Extends the Acupuncture Board's authority to employ personnel and appoint an executive officer exempt from civil service until January 1, 2017.

• Eliminates the requirement that schools obtain board approval and instead defines "approved educational and training program" as schools meeting specific criteria: offering at least 3,000 hours of instruction (2,050 didactic/lab, 950 clinical), obtaining institutional approval, and achieving accreditation or candidacy status with the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (effective January 1, 2017).

• Requires the board to review curriculum submissions within 30 days and notify relevant educational authorities of approval decisions.

• Removes the 3-year deadline for schools to obtain institutional approval and eliminates board oversight of school and college approvals beginning January 1, 2017.

• Authorizes the board to waive educational program requirements for applicants whose schools were denied accreditation or candidacy status, and requires establishing standards for evaluating educational training completed outside the United States and Canada.