You Can Make a Difference: interact with your elected officials
You Can Make a Difference: interact with your elected officials
This new webinar for 2027 will provide an easy-to-understand overview of how our state government is run and how grass-roots advocacy can impact the practice of physical therapy in California. You will hear how individual PTs and PTAs can have a direct impact on the actions of our state legislators. This course will provide insights into how one can participate in grass-roots action in 2027 to impact state laws and regulations and, hopefully, inspire participation at the CPTA Legislative Day at the State Capitol.
Tuesday February 23, 2027
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Online webinar
0.2 CEUs(pending)
This webinar course satisfies the 2.0 hr of Law required for licensure renewal.
Registration: $10 APTA members / $20 non-members
https://www.northeast-cpta.org/classes-courses
(subject to change)
Objectives:
Understand how utilizing our power as individual citizens can impact the views of our elected officials.
Understand what CPTA “Leg Day” is all about and how easy it is to participate in meetings with your legislators.
Understand the important role of our CPTA Lobbyist as our partner at the Capitol.
Gain inspiration to participate in the activities of the CPTA to impact legislative outcomes.
Gain insight into examples of how California laws and regulations effect the practice of physical therapy and the payment for those services, and upcoming bills for 2027.
Gail Bachman, PT, DPT, has been actively involved with the APTA and CPTA, and integral in grass roots legislative activities in California. As of January 2026, she is chair of the California Physical Therapy Association Political Action Committee. She is a lecturer at San Diego State University in neurophysiological therapeutics. She received a BS in Kinesiology, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy at San Diego State University.
Matthew Downey, PT, DPT, is currently on the Board of the CPTA serving as secretary. He is the Chapter Board liaison to the Government Affairs Committee & and the CAL-PT-PAC committee. Matt has served in many in elected positions and appointed positions in various capacities at local, state, and national levels of the CPTA and APTA. He is a senior physical therapist in the outpatient department at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an option in Exercise Science in 2014 and his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2017 both from California State University, Long Beach.
Tom DeFranco, PT, has been an active member of the CPTA for many years, and has participated in the legislative activities of the Association. He is currently Vice Chair of the CPTA Board, and serves as Speaker of the Assembly of Representatives to facilitate the business of the Chapter (CPTA). He is manager of the Acute Care Rehabilitation Services at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA. He received his BS Physical Therapy at CSU Fresno
Schedule: (subject to change)
7:00-7:05 Introduction
7:05-7:30 Getting to know your legislators. How our lobbyist helps us in Sacramento
7:30-8:00 How to utilize our power as individual citizens to impact the views of our elected officials. introduction to California State Assembly & State Senate website.
8:00-8:30 Examples of how California laws and regulations effect the practice of physical therapy & the payment for those services; upcoming bills for 2027
8:30-8:45 CPTA Legislative Day: How to participate in upcoming activities of the CPTA to impact legislative outcomes.
8:45-9:00 Q&A