Chiropractic Board Loses Funding, Staff After Veto
The state Board of Chiropractic Examiners is cutting its staff in half and reducing the number of disciplinary cases it reviews because of budgetary constraints, the Sacramento Bee reports. The board's $3 million budget was cut in half earlier this year by the Legislature after its members were cited for violating open meeting laws and other regulations.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vetoed legislation (SB 801) by Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Leimert Park) that sought to increase state oversight of the board and would have restored its full budget (Hill, Sacramento Bee, 10/26). Under the bill, the board would have been managed by the Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees other professional licensing boards.
Schwarzenegger argued that the board already is working with the Department of Consumer Affairs "to correct any prior deficiencies" (California Healthline, 10/12).
Aaron McLear, spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, said, "We intend to pursue legislation in January to fully fund the board this coming year."
Brian Stiger, executive director of the board, said the layoffs for half the board's members will occur Jan. 7 and will be based on seniority.
The board also has decided to suspend consideration of reinstating chiropractors with revoked licenses (Sacramento Bee, 10/26).