This act does not prohibit any of the following activities:

(a) The performance of respiratory care that is an integral part of the program of study by students enrolled in approved respiratory therapy training programs.

(b) Self-care by the patient or the gratuitous care by a friend or member of the family who does not represent or hold themselves out to be a respiratory care practitioner licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

(c) The respiratory care practitioner from performing advances in the art and techniques of respiratory care learned through formal or specialized training.

(d) The performance of respiratory care in an emergency situation by paramedical personnel who have been formally trained in these modalities and are duly licensed under the provisions of an act pertaining to their specialty.

(e) Temporary performance, by other health care personnel, students, or groups, of respiratory care services, as identified and authorized by the board, in the event of an epidemic, pandemic, public disaster, or emergency.

(f) Persons from engaging in cardiopulmonary research.

(g) Formally trained licensees and staff of child day care facilities from administering to a child inhaled medication as defined in § 1596.798 of the Health and Safety Code.

(h) The performance by a person employed by a home medical device retail facility or by a home health agency licensed by the State Department of Public Health of specific, limited, and basic respiratory care or respiratory care related services that have been authorized by the board.

(i) The performance, by a vocational nurse licensed by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California who is employed by a home health agency licensed by the State Department of Public Health, of respiratory tasks and services identified by the board, if the licensed vocational nurse complies with the following:

(1) Before January 1, 2025, the licensed vocational nurse has completed patient-specific training satisfactory to their employer.

(2) On or after January 1, 2025, the licensed vocational nurse has completed patient-specific training by the employer in accordance with guidelines that shall be promulgated by the board no later than January 1, 2025, in collaboration with the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California.

(j) The performance of pulmonary function testing by persons who are currently employed by Los Angeles County hospitals and have performed pulmonary function testing for at least 15 years.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 624, Sec. 8. (SB 1436) Effective January 1, 2023.)