SACRAMENTO— Assemblywoman Patty Berg introduced her first bill of the new legislative session Monday, a measure that would prevent the kind of red-tape barriers that hindered doctors who tried to help Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans.

“If something terrible happens, we have to make sure that people can get the help they need as quickly as possible,” said Berg, D-Eureka. “This bill prevents administrative hurdles in time of need.”

By enacting this bill, California will recognize out-of-state doctors and nurses during a declared state emergency. The bill would also allow California doctors and nurses to register before or during an emergency when another state declares an emergency so they can help during natural disasters in those states.

Assembly Bill 64 would prevent difficulties that plagued the Hurricane Katrina relief effort when volunteer doctors and nurses were prevented from giving aid because they lacked Louisiana licenses. California currently has laws that would cause the same kind of delays.

AB 64, known as the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act, is part of a national effort to create a uniform system to recognize out-of-state health professionals deployed to help during a natural disaster.

 “This is a simple change that will help Californians in life-and-death situations,” Berg said. “I want to ensure people receive needed medical care in a timely manner in a disaster.”