Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
This act shall be known as the Business and Professions Code.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
The provisions of this code in so far as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter shall be construed as restatements and continuations thereof, and not as new enactments.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
All persons who, at the time this code goes into effect, hold office under any of the acts repealed by this code, which offices are continued by this code, shall continue to hold the same according to the former tenure thereof.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
No action or proceeding commenced before this code takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by the provisions of this code, but all procedure thereafter taken therein shall conform to the provisions of this code so far as possible.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
No rights given by any license or certificate under any act repealed by this code are affected by the enactment of this code or by such repeal, but such rights shall hereafter be exercised according to the provisions of this code.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
All persons who, at the time this code goes into effect, are entitled to a certificate under any act repealed by this code, are thereby entitled to a certificate under the provisions of this code so far as the provisions of this code are applicable.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Any conviction for a crime under any act repealed by this code, which crime is continued as a public offense by this code, constitutes a conviction under this code for any purpose for which it constituted a conviction under the act repealed.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
A conviction within the meaning of this code means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action which a board is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code. However, a board may not deny a license to an applicant who is otherwise qualified pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 480.
Nothing in this section shall apply to the licensure of persons pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 6000) of Division 3.
(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 876.)
Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions hereinafter set forth shall govern the construction of this code.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Division, part, chapter, article and section headings contained herein shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify, or in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this code.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Whenever, by the provisions of this code, a power is granted to a public officer or a duty imposed upon such an officer, the power may be exercised or duty performed by a deputy of the officer or by a person authorized pursuant to law by the officer, unless it is expressly otherwise provided.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Writing includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is otherwise expressly provided.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, such reference shall apply to all amendments and additions thereto now or hereafter made.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Whenever in any provision of this code authority is granted to issue a citation for a violation of any provision of this code, that authority also includes the authority to issue a citation for the violation of any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of this code.
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1379, Sec. 1.)
The term “materia medica” as used in this code or in any initiative act referred to in this code, means those substances listed in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, the official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, the official United States Dispensatory, New and Nonofficial Remedies, or the National Formulary, or any supplement thereof, except substances covered by subdivision (a) of Section 4052 and Section 4057 of this code.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 300.)
The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present. Each gender includes the other two genders.
(Amended by Stats. 1939, Ch. 30.)
The Legislature hereby declares its intent that the terms “man” or “men” where appropriate shall be deemed “person” or “persons” and any references to the terms “man” or “men” in sections of this code be changed to “person” or “persons” when such code sections are being amended for any purpose. This act is declaratory and not amendatory of existing law.
(Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1171.)
“Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned. “Subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
“County” includes city and county.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
“City” includes city and county.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
“Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
“Oath” includes affirmation.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
“State” means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. In the latter case, it includes the District of Columbia and the territories.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
“Board,” as used in any provision of this code, refers to the board in which the administration of the provision is vested, and unless otherwise expressly provided, shall include “bureau,” “commission,” “committee,” “department,” “division,” “examining committee,” “program,” and “agency.”
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 670, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2011.)
“Department,” unless otherwise defined, refers to the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Wherever the laws of this state refer to the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards, the reference shall be construed to be to the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 716.)
“Director,” unless otherwise defined, refers to the Director of Consumer Affairs.
Wherever the laws of this state refer to the Director of Professional and Vocational Standards, the reference shall be construed to be to the Director of Consumer Affairs.
(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 716.)
“Appointing power,” unless otherwise defined, refers to the Director of Consumer Affairs.
(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 716.)
Unless otherwise expressly provided, “license” means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600.
(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 26, Sec. 1. Effective March 30, 1994.)
“Licentiate” means any person authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 2232.)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, any individual who, while imprisoned in a state prison or other correctional institution, is trained, in the course of a rehabilitation program approved by the particular licensing agency concerned and provided by the prison or other correctional institution, in a particular skill, occupation, or profession for which a state license, certificate, or other evidence of proficiency is required by this code shall not, when released from the prison or institution, be denied the right to take the next regularly scheduled state examination or any examination thereafter required to obtain the license, certificate, or other evidence of proficiency and shall not be denied such license, certificate, or other evidence of proficiency, because of his imprisonment or the conviction from which the imprisonment resulted, or because he obtained his training in prison or in the correctional institution, if the licensing agency, upon recommendation of the Adult Authority or the Department of the Youth Authority, as the case may be, finds that he is a fit person to be licensed.
(Added by renumbering Section 23.8 (as added by Stats. 1967, Ch. 1690) by Stats. 1971, Ch. 582.)
If any provision of this code, or the application thereof, to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the code, or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.
(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)
Any person applying for a license, registration, or the first renewal of a license, after the effective date of this section, as a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed professional clinical counselor shall, in addition to any other requirements, show by evidence satisfactory to the agency regulating the business or profession, that he or she has completed training in human sexuality as a condition of licensure. The training shall be creditable toward continuing education requirements as deemed appropriate by the agency regulating the business or profession, and the course shall not exceed more than 50 contact hours.
The Board of Psychology shall exempt from the requirements of this section any persons whose field of practice is such that they are not likely to have use for this training.
“Human sexuality” as used in this section means the study of a human being as a sexual being and how he or she functions with respect thereto.
The content and length of the training shall be determined by the administrative agency regulating the business or profession and the agency shall proceed immediately upon the effective date of this section to determine what training, and the quality of staff to provide the training, is available and shall report its determination to the Legislature on or before July 1, 1977.
If a licensing board or agency proposes to establish a training program in human sexuality, the board or agency shall first consult with other licensing boards or agencies that have established or propose to establish a training program in human sexuality to ensure that the programs are compatible in scope and content.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 381, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2012.)
Wherever, pursuant to this code, any state department, officer, board, agency, committee, or commission is authorized to adopt rules and regulations, such rules and regulations which are building standards, as defined in Section 18909 of the Health and Safety Code, shall be adopted pursuant to the provisions of Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code unless the provisions of Sections 18930, 18933, 18938, 18940, 18943, 18944, and 18945 of the Health and Safety Code are expressly excepted in the provision of this code under which the authority to adopt the specific building standard is delegated. Any building standard adopted in violation of this section shall have no force or effect. Any building standard adopted prior to January 1, 1980, pursuant to this code and not expressly excepted by statute from such provisions of the State Building Standards Law shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1985, or until adopted, amended, or superseded by provisions published in the State Building Standards Code, whichever occurs sooner.
(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1152.)
(a) Each entity specified in subdivisions (c), (d), and (e) shall provide on the Internet information regarding the status of every license issued by that entity in accordance with the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code) and the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). The public information to be provided on the Internet shall include information on suspensions and revocations of licenses issued by the entity and other related enforcement action, including accusations filed pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) taken by the entity relative to persons, businesses, or facilities subject to licensure or regulation by the entity. The information may not include personal information, including home telephone number, date of birth, or social security number. Each entity shall disclose a licensee’s address of record. However, each entity shall allow a licensee to provide a post office box number or other alternate address, instead of his or her home address, as the address of record. This section shall not preclude an entity from also requiring a licensee, who has provided a post office box number or other alternative mailing address as his or her address of record, to provide a physical business address or residence address only for the entity’s internal administrative use and not for disclosure as the licensee’s address of record or disclosure on the Internet.
(b) In providing information on the Internet, each entity specified in subdivisions (c) and (d) shall comply with the Department of Consumer Affairs’ guidelines for access to public records.
(c) Each of the following entities within the Department of Consumer Affairs shall comply with the requirements of this section:
(1) The Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists shall disclose information on its registrants and licensees.
(2) The Bureau of Automotive Repair shall disclose information on its licensees, including auto repair dealers, smog stations, lamp and brake stations, smog check technicians, and smog inspection certification stations.
(3) The Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation shall disclose information on its licensees and registrants, including major appliance repair dealers, combination dealers (electronic and appliance), electronic repair dealers, service contract sellers, and service contract administrators.
(4) The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau shall disclose information on its licensees, including cemetery brokers, cemetery salespersons, cemetery managers, crematory managers, cemetery authorities, crematories, cremated remains disposers, embalmers, funeral establishments, and funeral directors.
(5) The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau shall disclose information on its licensees.
(6) The Contractors’ State License Board shall disclose information on its licensees and registrants in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3. In addition to information related to licenses as specified in subdivision (a), the board shall also disclose information provided to the board by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Section 98.9 of the Labor Code.
(7) The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education shall disclose information on private postsecondary institutions under its jurisdiction, including disclosure of notices to comply issued pursuant to Section 94935 of the Education Code.
(8) The California Board of Accountancy shall disclose information on its licensees and registrants.
(9) The California Architects Board shall disclose information on its licensees, including architects and landscape architects.
(10) The State Athletic Commission shall disclose information on its licensees and registrants.
(11) The State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology shall disclose information on its licensees.
(12) The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind shall disclose information on its licensees and registrants.
(13) The Acupuncture Board shall disclose information on its licensees.
(14) The Board of Behavioral Sciences shall disclose information on its licensees, including licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed educational psychologists, and licensed professional clinical counselors.
(15) The Dental Board of California shall disclose information on its licensees.
(16) The State Board of Optometry shall disclose information regarding certificates of registration to practice optometry, statements of licensure, optometric corporation registrations, branch office licenses, and fictitious name permits of its licensees.
(17) The Board of Psychology shall disclose information on its licensees, including psychologists, psychological assistants, and registered psychologists.
(d) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall disclose information on its licensees.
(e) The Structural Pest Control Board shall disclose information on its licensees, including applicators, field representatives, and operators in the areas of fumigation, general pest and wood destroying pests and organisms, and wood roof cleaning and treatment.
(f) “Internet” for the purposes of this section has the meaning set forth in paragraph (6) of subdivision (f) of Section 17538.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 316, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2015.)
The successor agency to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education shall transmit any available data regarding school performance, including, but not limited to, attendance and graduation rates, it receives from any schools under its jurisdiction to the California Postsecondary Education Commission.
(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 642, Sec. 1. Effective November 2, 2009. Became operative as provided in Sec. 5 of Ch. 642.)
The Legislature finds that there is a need to ensure that professionals of the healing arts who have demonstrable contact with victims and potential victims of child, elder, and dependent adult abuse, and abusers and potential abusers of children, elders, and dependent adults are provided with adequate and appropriate training regarding the assessment and reporting of child, elder, and dependent adult abuse which will ameliorate, reduce, and eliminate the trauma of abuse and neglect and ensure the reporting of abuse in a timely manner to prevent additional occurrences.
The Board of Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sciences shall establish required training in the area of child abuse assessment and reporting for all persons applying for initial licensure and renewal of a license as a psychologist, clinical social worker, professional clinical counselor, or marriage and family therapist. This training shall be required one time only for all persons applying for initial licensure or for licensure renewal.
All persons applying for initial licensure or renewal of a license as a psychologist, clinical social worker, professional clinical counselor, or marriage and family therapist shall, in addition to all other requirements for licensure or renewal, have completed coursework or training in child abuse assessment and reporting that meets the requirements of this section, including detailed knowledge of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code). The training shall meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Be obtained from one of the following sources:
(1) An accredited or approved educational institution, as defined in Sections 2902, 4980.36, 4980.37, 4996.18, and 4999.12, including extension courses offered by those institutions.
(2) A continuing education provider approved by the responsible board.
(3) A course sponsored or offered by a professional association or a local, county, or state department of health or mental health for continuing education and approved by the responsible board.
(b) Have a minimum of seven contact hours.
(c) Include the study of the assessment and method of reporting of sexual assault, neglect, severe neglect, general neglect, willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment, corporal punishment or injury, and abuse in out-of-home care. The training shall also include physical and behavioral indicators of abuse, crisis counseling techniques, community resources, rights and responsibilities of reporting, consequences of failure to report, caring for a child’s needs after a report is made, sensitivity to previously abused children and adults, and implications and methods of treatment for children and adults.
(d) An applicant shall provide the appropriate board with documentation of completion of the required child abuse training.
The Board of Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sciences shall exempt an applicant who applies for an exemption from the requirements of this section and who shows to the satisfaction of the board that there would be no need for the training in his or her practice because of the nature of that practice.
It is the intent of the Legislature that a person licensed as a psychologist, clinical social worker, professional clinical counselor, or marriage and family therapist have minimal but appropriate training in the areas of child, elder, and dependent adult abuse assessment and reporting. It is not intended that by solely complying with the requirements of this section, a practitioner is fully trained in the subject of treatment of child, elder, and dependent adult abuse victims and abusers.
The Board of Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sciences are encouraged to include coursework regarding the assessment and reporting of elder and dependent adult abuse in the required training on aging and long-term care issues prior to licensure or license renewal.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 552, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) The Board of Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sciences shall consider adoption of continuing education requirements including training in the area of recognizing chemical dependency and early intervention for all persons applying for renewal of a license as a psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional clinical counselor.
(b) Prior to the adoption of any regulations imposing continuing education relating to alcohol and other chemical dependency, the boards are urged to consider coursework to include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following topics:
(1) Historical and contemporary perspectives on alcohol and other drug abuse.
(2) Extent of the alcohol and drug abuse epidemic and its effects on the individual, family, and community.
(3) Recognizing the symptoms of alcoholism and drug addiction.
(4) Making appropriate interpretations, interventions, and referrals.
(5) Recognizing and intervening with affected family members.
(6) Learning about current programs of recovery, such as 12 step programs, and how therapists can effectively utilize these programs.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 381, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2012.)
In addition to other qualifications for licensure prescribed by the various acts of boards under the department, applicants for licensure and licensees renewing their licenses shall also comply with Section 17520 of the Family Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 607, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, any board, as defined in Section 22, and the State Bar and the Bureau of Real Estate shall, at the time of issuance of the license, require that the applicant provide its federal employer identification number, if the applicant is a partnership, or the applicant’s social security number for all other applicants.
(2) No later than January 1, 2016, in accordance with Section 135.5, a board, as defined in Section 22, and the State Bar and the Bureau of Real Estate shall require either the individual taxpayer identification number or social security number if the applicant is an individual for purposes of this subdivision.
(b) A licensee failing to provide the federal employer identification number, or the individual taxpayer identification number or social security number shall be reported by the licensing board to the Franchise Tax Board. If the licensee fails to provide that information after notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 19528 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the licensee shall be subject to the penalty provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 19528 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(c) In addition to the penalty specified in subdivision (b), a licensing board may not process an application for an initial license unless the applicant provides its federal employer identification number, or individual taxpayer identification number or social security number where requested on the application.
(d) A licensing board shall, upon request of the Franchise Tax Board, furnish to the Franchise Tax Board the following information with respect to every licensee:
(1) Name.
(2) Address or addresses of record.
(3) Federal employer identification number if the licensee is a partnership, or the licensee’s individual taxpayer identification number or social security number for all other licensees.
(4) Type of license.
(5) Effective date of license or a renewal.
(6) Expiration date of license.
(7) Whether license is active or inactive, if known.
(8) Whether license is new or a renewal.
(e) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Licensee” means a person or entity, other than a corporation, authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600.
(2) “License” includes a certificate, registration, or any other authorization needed to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600.
(3) “Licensing board” means any board, as defined in Section 22, the State Bar, and the Bureau of Real Estate.
(f) The reports required under this section shall be filed on magnetic media or in other machine-readable form, according to standards furnished by the Franchise Tax Board.
(g) Licensing boards shall provide to the Franchise Tax Board the information required by this section at a time that the Franchise Tax Board may require.
(h) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, a federal employer identification number, individual taxpayer identification number, or social security number furnished pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to be a public record and shall not be open to the public for inspection.
(i) A deputy, agent, clerk, officer, or employee of a licensing board described in subdivision (a), or any former officer or employee or other individual who, in the course of his or her employment or duty, has or has had access to the information required to be furnished under this section, may not disclose or make known in any manner that information, except as provided in this section to the Franchise Tax Board or as provided in subdivision (k).
(j) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to utilize the federal employer identification number, individual taxpayer identification number, or social security number for the purpose of establishing the identification of persons affected by state tax laws and for purposes of compliance with Section 17520 of the Family Code and, to that end, the information furnished pursuant to this section shall be used exclusively for those purposes.
(k) If the board utilizes a national examination to issue a license, and if a reciprocity agreement or comity exists between the State of California and the state requesting release of the individual taxpayer identification number or social security number, any deputy, agent, clerk, officer, or employee of any licensing board described in subdivision (a) may release an individual taxpayer identification number or social security number to an examination or licensing entity, only for the purpose of verification of licensure or examination status.
(l) For the purposes of enforcement of Section 17520 of the Family Code, and notwithstanding any other law, a board, as defined in Section 22, and the State Bar and the Bureau of Real Estate shall at the time of issuance of the license require that each licensee provide the individual taxpayer identification number or social security number of each individual listed on the license and any person who qualifies for the license. For the purposes of this subdivision, “licensee” means an entity that is issued a license by any board, as defined in Section 22, the State Bar, the Bureau of Real Estate, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 752, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2015.)
(a) As used in this section, “board” means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Bureau of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession.
(b) Each applicant for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by a board who is not in compliance with a judgment or order for support shall be subject to Section 17520 of the Family Code.
(c) “Compliance with a judgment or order for support” has the meaning given in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 17520 of the Family Code.
(d) Each licensee or applicant whose name appears on a list of the 500 largest tax delinquencies pursuant to Section 7063 or 19195 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall be subject to Section 494.5.
(e) Each application for a new license or renewal of a license shall indicate on the application that the law allows the State Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board to share taxpayer information with a board and requires the licensee to pay his or her state tax obligation and that his or her license may be suspended if the state tax obligation is not paid.
(f) For purposes of this section, “tax obligation” means the tax imposed under, or in accordance with, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001), Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200), Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251), Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 2. Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)
(a) The Legislature finds that there is a need to ensure that professionals of the healing arts who have or intend to have significant contact with patients who have, or are at risk to be exposed to, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are provided with training in the form of continuing education regarding the characteristics and methods of assessment and treatment of the condition.
(b) A board vested with the responsibility of regulating the following licensees shall consider including training regarding the characteristics and method of assessment and treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in any continuing education or training requirements for those licensees: chiropractors, medical laboratory technicians, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, physicians and surgeons, podiatrists, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, psychologists, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, acupuncturists, marriage and family therapists, licensed educational psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional clinical counselors.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 381, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2012.)
It is the policy of this state that, consistent with the provision of high-quality services, persons with skills, knowledge, and experience obtained in the armed services of the United States should be permitted to apply this learning and contribute to the employment needs of the state at the maximum level of responsibility and skill for which they are qualified. To this end, rules and regulations of boards provided for in this code shall provide for methods of evaluating education, training, and experience obtained in the armed services, if applicable to the requirements of the business, occupation, or profession regulated. These rules and regulations shall also specify how this education, training, and experience may be used to meet the licensure requirements for the particular business, occupation, or profession regulated. Each board shall consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Military Department before adopting these rules and regulations. Each board shall perform the duties required by this section within existing budgetary resources of the agency within which the board operates.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 214, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) Subject to the standards described in Section 19130 of the Government Code, any board, as defined in Section 22, the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California may enter into an agreement with an expert consultant to do any of the following:
(1) Provide an expert opinion on enforcement-related matters, including providing testimony at an administrative hearing.
(2) Assist the board as a subject matter expert in examination development, examination validation, or occupational analyses.
(3) Evaluate the mental or physical health of a licensee or an applicant for a license as may be necessary to protect the public health and safety.
(b) An executed contract between a board and an expert consultant shall be exempt from the provisions of Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.
(c) Each board shall establish policies and procedures for the selection and use of expert consultants.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand the scope of practice of an expert consultant providing services pursuant to this section.
(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 339, Sec. 1. Effective September 26, 2011.)
