California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB659 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 659Introduced by Assembly Member BermanFebruary 14, 2025 An act to add Section 600 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to advertising. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 659, as introduced, Berman. Master of Divinity: physician and surgeon: title. Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons.Existing law prohibits a person from using the words doctor or physician, the letters or prefix Dr., the initials M.D., or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner, unless the person has been issued a physicians and surgeons certificate by the board, and makes a violation of these provisions a crime.This bill would specifically prohibit a person who has earned a Master of Divinity from displaying the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. The bill would provide that prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. The bill would provide that a person who violates this provision is not subject to criminal penalties, as specified. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 600 is added to the Business and Professions Code, immediately preceding Section 601, to read:600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.
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3	3	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 659Introduced by Assembly Member BermanFebruary 14, 2025 An act to add Section 600 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to advertising. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 659, as introduced, Berman. Master of Divinity: physician and surgeon: title. Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons.Existing law prohibits a person from using the words doctor or physician, the letters or prefix Dr., the initials M.D., or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner, unless the person has been issued a physicians and surgeons certificate by the board, and makes a violation of these provisions a crime.This bill would specifically prohibit a person who has earned a Master of Divinity from displaying the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. The bill would provide that prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. The bill would provide that a person who violates this provision is not subject to criminal penalties, as specified. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
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9	9	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
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11	11	Assembly Bill
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13	13	No. 659
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15	15	Introduced by Assembly Member BermanFebruary 14, 2025
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17	17	Introduced by Assembly Member Berman
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20	20	An act to add Section 600 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to advertising.
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22	22	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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24	24	## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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26	26	AB 659, as introduced, Berman. Master of Divinity: physician and surgeon: title.
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28	28	Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons.Existing law prohibits a person from using the words doctor or physician, the letters or prefix Dr., the initials M.D., or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner, unless the person has been issued a physicians and surgeons certificate by the board, and makes a violation of these provisions a crime.This bill would specifically prohibit a person who has earned a Master of Divinity from displaying the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. The bill would provide that prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. The bill would provide that a person who violates this provision is not subject to criminal penalties, as specified.
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30	30	Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons.
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32	32	Existing law prohibits a person from using the words doctor or physician, the letters or prefix Dr., the initials M.D., or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner, unless the person has been issued a physicians and surgeons certificate by the board, and makes a violation of these provisions a crime.
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34	34	This bill would specifically prohibit a person who has earned a Master of Divinity from displaying the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. The bill would provide that prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. The bill would provide that a person who violates this provision is not subject to criminal penalties, as specified.
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36	36	## Digest Key
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38	38	## Bill Text
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40	40	The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 600 is added to the Business and Professions Code, immediately preceding Section 601, to read:600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.
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42	42	The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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44	44	## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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46	46	SECTION 1. Section 600 is added to the Business and Professions Code, immediately preceding Section 601, to read:600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.
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48	48	SECTION 1. Section 600 is added to the Business and Professions Code, immediately preceding Section 601, to read:
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50	50	### SECTION 1.
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52	52	600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.
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54	54	600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.
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56	56	600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.
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60	60	600. A person who has earned a Master of Divinity shall not display the title MDiv or M.D.i.v. in a communication or advertisement relating to the persons practice unless the title is clearly distinguishable from the title MD or M.D. Prohibited displays include, but are not limited to, using different colors, fonts, or font sizes in a way that makes the MD or M.D. more prominent than the iv or i.v. A person who violates this section shall not be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in Section 2054.