Source: http://lawdelta.org/world/Law:Division_1._Department_Of_Consumer_Affairs_(California)
Timestamp: 2014-07-23 18:22:33
Document Index: 778381493

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1']

Law:Division 1. Department Of Consumer Affairs (California) - Law Delta
Law:Division 1. Department Of Consumer Affairs (California)
1 Chapter 1. The Department
2 Chapter 1.5. Unlicensed Activity Enforcement
3 Chapter 2. The Director Of Consumer Affairs
4 Chapter 3. Funds Of The Department
5 Chapter 4. Consumer Affairs
5.1 Article 1. General Provisions And Definitions
5.2 Article 2. Director And Employees
5.3 Article 3. Powers And Duties
5.4 Article 3.5. Consumer Advisory Council
5.5 Article 3.6. Uniform Standards Regarding Substance-abusing Healing Arts Licensees
5.6 Article 4. Representation Of Consumers
5.7 Article 5. Consumer Complaints
5.8 Article 6. Information
5.9 Article 7. Personal Information And Privacy Protection
6 Chapter 5. Buildings Of The Department
7 Chapter 6. Public Members
8 Chapter 7. Licensee
9 Chapter 8. Dispute Resolution Programs
9.1 Article 1. Legislative Purpose
9.3 Article 3. Establishment And Administration Of Programs
9.4 Article 4. Application Procedures
9.5 Article 5. Payment Procedures
9.6 Article 6. Funding
9.7 Article 7. Rules And Regulations
10 Chapter 9. Certification Of Third-party Dispute Resolution Processes For New Motor Vehicles
Ca Codes (bpc:100-144) Business And Professions Code
Section 100-144
100. There is in the state government, in the State and Consumer Services Agency, a Department of Consumer Affairs.
101. The department is comprised of: (a) The Dental Board of California. (b) The Medical Board of California. (c) The State Board of Optometry. (d) The California State Board of Pharmacy. (e) The Veterinary Medical Board. (f) The California Board of Accountancy. (g) The California Architects Board. (h) The Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology. (i) The Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. (j) The Contractors' State License Board. (k) The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. (l) The Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation. (m) The Board of Registered Nursing. (n) The Board of Behavioral Sciences. (o) The State Athletic Commission. (p) The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. (q) The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. (r) The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. (s) The Court Reporters Board of California. (t) The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. (u) The Landscape Architects Technical Committee. (v) The Division of Investigation. (w) The Bureau of Automotive Repair. (x) The Respiratory Care Board of California. (y) The Acupuncture Board. (z) The Board of Psychology. (aa) The California Board of Podiatric Medicine. (ab) The Physical Therapy Board of California. (ac) The Arbitration Review Program. (ad) The Physician Assistant Committee. (ae) The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. (af) The California Board of Occupational Therapy. (ag) The Osteopathic Medical Board of California. (ah) The Naturopathic Medicine Committee. (ai) The Dental Hygiene Committee of California. (aj) The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau. (ak) Any other boards, offices, or officers subject to its jurisdiction by law.
101.6. The boards, bureaus, and commissions in the department are established for the purpose of ensuring that those private businesses and professions deemed to engage in activities which have potential impact upon the public health, safety, and welfare are adequately regulated in order to protect the people of California. To this end, they establish minimum qualifications and levels of competency and license persons desiring to engage in the occupations they regulate upon determining that such persons possess the requisite skills and qualifications necessary to provide safe and effective services to the public, or register or otherwise certify persons in order to identify practitioners and ensure performance according to set and accepted professional standards. They provide a means for redress of grievances by investigating allegations of unprofessional conduct, incompetence, fraudulent action, or unlawful activity brought to their attention by members of the public and institute disciplinary action against persons licensed or registered under the provisions of this code when such action is warranted. In addition, they conduct periodic checks of licensees, registrants, or otherwise certified persons in order to ensure compliance with the relevant sections of this code.
101.7. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, boards shall meet at least three times each calendar year. Boards shall meet at least once each calendar year in northern California and once each calendar year in southern California in order to facilitate participation by the public and its licensees. (b) The director at his or her discretion may exempt any board from the requirement in subdivision (a) upon a showing of good cause that the board is not able to meet at least three times in a calendar year. (c) The director may call for a special meeting of the board when a board is not fulfilling its duties.
102. Upon the request of any board regulating, licensing, or controlling any professional or vocational occupation created by an initiative act, the Director of Consumer Affairs may take over the duties of the board under the same conditions and in the same manner as provided in this code for other boards of like character. Such boards shall pay a proportionate cost of the administration of the department on the same basis as is charged other boards included within the department. Upon request from any such board which has adopted the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code as rules of procedure in proceedings before it, the director shall assign hearing officers for such proceedings in accordance with Section 110.5.
102.1. (a) If the Cemetery Board and the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Board are not consolidated or otherwise restructured on January 1, 1996, the Department of Consumer Affairs shall succeed to, and is vested with, all the duties, powers, purpose, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the boards, including the employment of one executive director for the purposes of performing the department's obligations herewithin. (b) Notwithstanding Section 107, any law authorizing the appointment of an executive officer by the Cemetery Board and the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Board shall not be implemented and shall have no force or effect while either board is inoperative or repealed. (c) If legislation consolidating or otherwise restructuring the Cemetery Board and the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Board is not enacted, the Controller is authorized to transfer the necessary amount of funds from Item 1335-001-0258 of the 1995 Budget Act to the department for expenditure by the department for purposes of this section. (d) This section shall be operative only during the period that legislation is not enacted to consolidate or otherwise restructure the Cemetery Board and the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Board into another board or entity.
102.2. (a) If the Structural Pest Control Board does not comply with the contingencies specified in paragraphs (a) to (d), inclusive, of Provision 1 of Item 1530-001-0775 of the Budget Act of 1995 by January 1, 1996, as determined by the Department of Consumer Affairs, then the department may succeed to and is vested with all the duties, powers, purpose, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the board, including the employment of one executive director for the purposes of performing the department obligations herein. (b) If the department elects to not exercise control over the board pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall monitor the board on a monthly basis and the Controller shall, on a monthly basis, transfer the necessary amount of funds, not to exceed one-sixth of the amount of the appropriation for each fund identified in subdivision (c), to the board for the purpose of this subdivision. If at any time the department determines that the board is not meeting satisfactory progress toward the obligations set forth in subdivision (a), the department may invoke privileges of succession as allowed by subdivision (a). Monitoring shall include a monthly report from the board, the status of meeting the obligations set forth in subdivisions (a) through (d), inclusive, of Provision 1 of Item 1530-001-0775 of the Budget Act of 1995 in addition to other statutory obligations as prescribed by law. (c) Notwithstanding Section 107, any provision of law authorizing the appointment of an executive officer by the Structural Pest Control Board shall not be implemented and shall have no force or effect while the board is inoperative or repealed. This subdivision shall be in effect only if the Department of Consumer Affairs invokes privileges of succession pursuant to subdivision (a). (d) In the event that the Structural Pest Control Board does not comply with Provision 1 of Item 1530-001-0775 of the Budget Act of 1995 by January 1, 1996, as determined by the department, the sum of one million three hundred fifty-five thousand dollars ($1,355,000) is thereupon appropriated from the Structural Pest Control Fund to the department, and the sum of one hundred three thousand dollars ($103,000) is thereupon appropriated from the Structural Pest Control Education and Enforcement Fund to the department, for purposes of this section.
102.3. (a) The director may enter into an interagency agreement with an appropriate entity within the Department of Consumer Affairs as provided for in Section 101 to delegate the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction that have been succeeded and vested with the department, of a board, as defined in Section 477, which became inoperative and was repealed in accordance with Chapter 908 of the Statutes of 1994. (b) (1) Where, pursuant to subdivision (a), an interagency agreement is entered into between the director and that entity, the entity receiving the delegation of authority may establish a technical committee to regulate, as directed by the entity, the profession subject to the authority that has been delegated. The entity may delegate to the technical committee only those powers that it received pursuant to the interagency agreement with the director. The technical committee shall have only those powers that have been delegated to it by the entity. (2) Where the entity delegates its authority to adopt, amend, or repeal regulations to the technical committee, all regulations adopted, amended, or repealed by the technical committee shall be subject to the review and approval of the entity. (3) The entity shall not delegate to a technical committee its authority to discipline a licentiate who has violated the provisions of the applicable chapter of the Business and Professions Code that is subject to the director's delegation of authority to the entity. (c) An interagency agreement entered into, pursuant to subdivision (a), shall continue until such time as the licensing program administered by the technical committee has undergone a review by the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions, and Consumer Protection to evaluate and determine whether the licensing program has demonstrated a public need for its continued existence. Thereafter, at the director's discretion, the interagency agreement may be renewed.
103. Each member of a board, commission, or committee created in the various chapters of Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) and Division 3 (commencing with Section 5000), and in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18600) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 19000) of Division 8, shall receive the moneys specified in this section when authorized by the respective provisions. Each such member shall receive a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day actually spent in the discharge of official duties, and shall be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of official duties. The payments in each instance shall be made only from the fund from which the expenses of the agency are paid and shall be subject to the availability of money. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no public officer or employee shall receive per diem salary compensation for serving on those boards, commissions, committees, or the Consumer Advisory Council on any day when the officer or employee also received compensation for his or her regular public employment.
104. All boards or other regulatory entities within the department' s jurisdiction that the department determines to be health-related may adopt regulations to require licensees to display their licenses or registrations in the locality in which they are treating patients, and to inform patients as to the identity of the regulatory agency they may contact if they have any questions or complaints regarding the licensee. In complying with this requirement, those boards may take into consideration the particular settings in which licensees practice, or other circumstances which may make the displaying or providing of information to the consumer extremely difficult for the licensee in their particular type of practice.
105. Members of boards in the department shall take an oath of office as provided in the Constitution and the Government Code.
105.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, each member of a board, commission, examining committee, or other similarly constituted agency within the department shall hold office until the appointment and qualification of his successor or until one year shall have elapsed since the expiration of the term for which he was appointed, whichever first occurs.
106. The Governor has power to remove from office at any time, any member of any board appointed by him for continued neglect of duties required by law, or for incompetence, or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct. Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation or restriction on the power of the Governor, conferred on him by any other provision of law, to remove any member of any board.
106.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Governor may remove from office a member of a board or other licensing entity in the department if it is shown that such member has knowledge of the specific questions to be asked on the licensing entity's next examination and directly or indirectly discloses any such question or questions in advance of or during the examination to any applicant for that examination. The proceedings for removal shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the Governor shall have all the powers granted therein.
107. Pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 4 of Article VII of the California Constitution, each board may appoint a person exempt from civil service and may fix his or her salary, with the approval of the Department of Personnel Administration pursuant to Section 19825 of the Government Code, who shall be designated as an executive officer unless the licensing act of the particular board designates the person as a registrar.
107.5. If any board in the department uses an official seal pursuant to any provision of this code, the seal shall contain the words "State of California" and "Department of Consumer Affairs" in addition to the title of the board, and shall be in a form approved by the director.
108. Each of the boards comprising the department exists as a separate unit, and has the functions of setting standards, holding meetings, and setting dates thereof, preparing and conducting examinations, passing upon applicants, conducting investigations of violations of laws under its jurisdiction, issuing citations and holding hearings for the revocation of licenses, and the imposing of penalties following those hearings, insofar as these powers are given by statute to each respective board.
108.5. In any investigation, proceeding or hearing which any board, commission or officer in the department is empowered to institute, conduct, or hold, any witness appearing at such investigation, proceeding or hearing whether upon a subpoena or voluntarily, may be paid the sum of twelve dollars ($12) per day for every day in actual attendance at such investigation, proceeding or hearing and for his actual, necessary and reasonable expenses and such sums shall be a legal charge against the funds of the respective board, commission or officer; provided further, that no witness appearing other than at the instance of the board, commission or officer may be compensated out of such fund. The board, commission or officer will determine the sums due any such witness and enter the amount on its minutes.
109. (a) The decisions of any of the boards comprising the department with respect to setting standards, conducting examinations, passing candidates, and revoking licenses, are not subject to review by the director, but are final within the limits provided by this code which are applicable to the particular board, except as provided in this section. (b) The director may initiate an investigation of any allegations of misconduct in the preparation, administration, or scoring of an examination which is administered by a board, or in the review of qualifications which are a part of the licensing process of any board. A request for investigation shall be made by the director to the Division of Investigation through the chief of the division or to any law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the alleged misconduct occurred. (c) The director may intervene in any matter of any board where an investigation by the Division of Investigation discloses probable cause to believe that the conduct or activity of a board, or its members or employees constitutes a violation of criminal law. The term "intervene," as used in paragraph (c) of this section may include, but is not limited to, an application for a restraining order or injunctive relief as specified in Section 123.5, or a referral or request for criminal prosecution. For purposes of this section, the director shall be deemed to have standing under Section 123.5 and shall seek representation of the Attorney General, or other appropriate counsel in the event of a conflict in pursuing that action.
110. The department shall have possession and control of all records, books, papers, offices, equipment, supplies, funds, appropriations, land and other property--real or personal--now or hereafter held for the benefit or use of all of the bodies, offices or officers comprising the department. The title to all property held by any of these bodies, offices or officers for the use and benefit of the state, is vested in the State of California to be held in the possession of the department. Except as authorized by a board, the department shall not have the possession and control of examination questions prior to submission to applicants at scheduled examinations.
111. Unless otherwise expressly provided, any board may, with the approval of the appointing power, appoint qualified persons, who shall be designated as commissioners on examination, to give the whole or any portion of any examination. A commissioner on examination need not be a member of the board but he shall have the same qualifications as one and shall be subject to the same rules.
112. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no agency in the department, with the exception of the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, shall be required to compile, publish, sell, or otherwise distribute a directory. When an agency deems it necessary to compile and publish a directory, the agency shall cooperate with the director in determining its form and content, the time and frequency of its publication, the persons to whom it is to be sold or otherwise distributed, and its price if it is sold. Any agency that requires the approval of the director for the compilation, publication, or distribution of a directory, under the law in effect at the time the amendment made to this section at the 1970 Regular Session of the Legislature becomes effective, shall continue to require that approval. As used in this section, "directory" means a directory, roster, register, or similar compilation of the names of persons who hold a license, certificate, permit, registration, or similar indicia of authority from the agency.
113. Upon recommendation of the director, officers, and employees of the department, and the officers, members, and employees of the boards, committees, and commissions comprising it or subject to its jurisdiction may confer, in this state or elsewhere, with officers or employees of this state, its political subdivisions, other states, or the United States, or with other persons, associations, or organizations as may be of assistance to the department, board, committee, or commission in the conduct of its work. The officers, members, and employees shall be entitled to their actual traveling expenses incurred in pursuance hereof, but when these expenses are incurred with respect to travel outside of the state, they shall be subject to the approval of the Governor and the Director of Finance.
114. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, any licensee or registrant of any board, commission, or bureau within the department, whose license expired while the licensee or registrant was on active duty as a member of the California National Guard or the United States Armed Forces, may, upon application, reinstate his or her license or registration without examination or penalty; provided, (1) His or her license or registration was valid at the time he or she entered the California National Guard or the United States Armed Forces. (2) The application for reinstatement is made while serving in the California National Guard or the United States Armed Forces, or not later than one year from the date of discharge from active service or return to inactive military status. (3) The application for reinstatement is accompanied by an affidavit showing the date of entrance into the service, whether still in the service, or date of discharge, and the renewal fee for the current renewal period in which the application is filed is paid. (b) If application for reinstatement is filed more than one year after discharge or return to inactive status, the applicant, in the discretion of the licensing agency, may be required to pass an examination. (c) If application for reinstatement is filed and the licensing agency determines that the applicant has not actively engaged in the practice of his or her profession while on active duty, then the licensing agency may require the applicant to pass an examination. (d) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this code, any licensee or registrant who, either part time or full time, practices in this state the profession or vocation for which he or she is licensed or registered shall be required to maintain his or her license in good standing even though he or she is in military service. For the purposes in this section, time spent by a licensee in receiving treatment or hospitalization in any veterans' facility during which he or she is prevented from practicing his or her profession or vocation shall be excluded from said period of one year.
115. The provisions of Section 114 of this code are also applicable to a licensee or registrant whose license or registration was obtained while in the armed services.
116. (a) The director may audit and review, upon his or her own initiative, or upon the request of a consumer or licensee, inquiries and complaints regarding licensees, dismissals of disciplinary cases, the opening, conduct, or closure of investigations, informal conferences, and discipline short of formal accusation by the Medical Board of California, the allied health professional boards, and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine. The director may make recommendations for changes to the disciplinary system to the appropriate board, the Legislature, or both. (b) The director shall report to the Chairpersons of the Senate Business and Professions Committee and the Assembly Health Committee annually, commencing March 1, 1995, regarding his or her findings from any audit, review, or monitoring and evaluation conducted pursuant to this section.
118. (a) The withdrawal of an application for a license after it has been filed with a board in the department shall not, unless the board has consented in writing to such withdrawal, deprive the board of its authority to institute or continue a proceeding against the applicant for the denial of the license upon any ground provided by law or to enter an order denying the license upon any such ground. (b) The suspension, expiration, or forfeiture by operation of law of a license issued by a board in the department, or its suspension, forfeiture, or cancellation by order of the board or by order of a court of law, or its surrender without the written consent of the board, shall not, during any period in which it may be renewed, restored, reissued, or reinstated, deprive the board of its authority to institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding against the licensee upon any ground provided by law or to enter an order suspending or revoking the license or otherwise taking disciplinary action against the licensee on any such ground. (c) As used in this section, "board" includes an individual who is authorized by any provision of this code to issue, suspend, or revoke a license, and "license" includes "certificate," "registration," and "permit."
119. Any person who does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor: (a) Displays or causes or permits to be displayed or has in his or her possession either of the following: (1) A canceled, revoked, suspended, or fraudulently altered license. (2) A fictitious license or any document simulating a license or purporting to be or have been issued as a license. (b) Lends his or her license to any other person or knowingly permits the use thereof by another. (c) Displays or represents any license not issued to him or her as being his or her license. (d) Fails or refuses to surrender to the issuing authority upon its lawful written demand any license, registration, permit, or certificate which has been suspended, revoked, or canceled. (e) Knowingly permits any unlawful use of a license issued to him or her. (f) Photographs, photostats, duplicates, manufactures, or in any way reproduces any license or facsimile thereof in a manner that it could be mistaken for a valid license, or displays or has in his or her possession any such photograph, photostat, duplicate, reproduction, or facsimile unless authorized by this code. (g) Buys or receives a fraudulent, forged, or counterfeited license knowing that it is fraudulent, forged, or counterfeited. For purposes of this subdivision, "fraudulent" means containing any misrepresentation of fact. As used in this section, "license" includes "certificate," "permit," "authority," and "registration" or any other indicia giving authorization to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600.
120. (a) Subdivision (a) of Section 119 shall not apply to a surviving spouse having in his or her possession or displaying a deceased spouse's canceled certified public accountant certificate or canceled public accountant certificate that has been canceled by official action of the California Board of Accountancy. (b) Notwithstanding Section 119, any person who has received a certificate of certified public accountant or a certificate of public accountant from the board may possess and may display the certificate received unless the person's certificate, permit, or registration has been suspended or revoked.
121. No licensee who has complied with the provisions of this code relating to the renewal of his or her license prior to expiration of such license shall be deemed to be engaged illegally in the practice of his or her business or profession during any period between such renewal and receipt of evidence of such renewal which may occur due to delay not the fault of the applicant. As used in this section, "license" includes "certificate," "permit," "authorization," and "registration," or any other indicia giving authorization, by any agency, board, bureau, commission, committee, or entity within the Department of Consumer Affairs, to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or by the board referred to in the Chiropractic Act or the Osteopathic Act.
121.5. Except as otherwise provided in this code, the application of delinquency fees or accrued and unpaid renewal fees for the renewal of expired licenses or registrations shall not apply to licenses or registrations that have lawfully been designated as inactive or retired.
122. Except as otherwise provided by law, the department and each of the boards, bureaus, committees, and commissions within the department may charge a fee for the processing and issuance of a duplicate copy of any certificate of licensure or other form evidencing licensure or renewal of licensure. The fee shall be in an amount sufficient to cover all costs incident to the issuance of the duplicate certificate or other form but shall not exceed twenty-five dollars ($25).
123. It is a misdemeanor for any person to engage in any conduct which subverts or attempts to subvert any licensing examination or the administration of an examination, including, but not limited to: (a) Conduct which violates the security of the examination materials; removing from the examination room any examination materials without authorization; the unauthorized reproduction by any means of any portion of the actual licensing examination; aiding by any means the unauthorized reproduction of any portion of the actual licensing examination; paying or using professional or paid examination-takers for the purpose of reconstructing any portion of the licensing examination; obtaining examination questions or other examination material, except by specific authorization either before, during, or after an examination; or using or purporting to use any examination questions or materials which were improperly removed or taken from any examination for the purpose of instructing or preparing any applicant for examination; or selling, distributing, buying, receiving, or having unauthorized possession of any portion of a future, current, or previously administered licensing examination. (b) Communicating with any other examinee during the administration of a licensing examination; copying answers from another examinee or permitting one's answers to be copied by another examinee; having in one's possession during the administration of the licensing examination any books, equipment, notes, written or printed materials, or data of any kind, other than the examination materials distributed, or otherwise authorized to be in one's possession during the examination; or impersonating any examinee or having an impersonator take the licensing examination on one's behalf. Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution under the authority provided for in any other provision of law. In addition to any other penalties, a person found guilty of violating this section, shall be liable for the actual damages sustained by the agency administering the examination not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and the costs of litigation. (c) If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are severable.
123.5. Whenever any person has engaged, or is about to engage, in any acts or practices which constitute, or will constitute, a violation of Section 123, the superior court in and for the county wherein the acts or practices take place, or are about to take place, may issue an injunction, or other appropriate order, restraining such conduct on application of a board, the Attorney General or the district attorney of the county. The proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The remedy provided for by this section shall be in addition to, and not a limitation on, the authority provided for in any other provision of law.
124. Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 11505 of the Government Code, whenever written notice, including a notice, order, or document served pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), or Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500), of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, is required to be given by any board in the department, the notice may be given by regular mail addressed to the last known address of the licentiate or by personal service, at the option of the board.
125. Any person, licensed under Division 1 (commencing with Section 100), Division 2 (commencing with Section 500), or Division 3 (commencing with Section 5000) is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the disciplinary provisions of this code applicable to him or her, who conspires with a person not so licensed to violate any provision of this code, or who, with intent to aid or assist that person in violating those provisions does either of the following: (a) Allows his or her license to be used by that person. (b) Acts as his or her agent or partner.
125.3. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, in any order issued in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding before any board within the department or before the Osteopathic Medical Board, upon request of the entity bringing the proceeding may request the administrative law judge to direct a licentiate found to have committed a violation or violations of the licensing act to pay a sum not to exceed the reasonable costs of the investigation and enforcement of the case. (b) In the case of a disciplined licentiate that is a corporation or a partnership, the order may be made against the licensed corporate entity or licensed partnership. (c) A certified copy of the actual costs, or a good faith estimate of costs where actual costs are not available, signed by the entity bringing the proceeding or its designated representative shall be prima facie evidence of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case. The costs shall include the amount of investigative and enforcement costs up to the date of the hearing, including, but not limited to, charges imposed by the Attorney General. (d) The administrative law judge shall make a proposed finding of the amount of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case when requested pursuant to subdivision (a). The finding of the administrative law judge with regard to costs shall not be reviewable by the board to increase the cost award. The board may reduce or eliminate the cost award, or remand to the administrative law judge where the proposed decision fails to make a finding on costs requested pursuant to subdivision (a). (e) Where an order for recovery of costs is made and timely payment is not made as directed in the board's decision, the board may enforce the order for repayment in any appropriate court. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the board may have as to any licentiate to pay costs. (f) In any action for recovery of costs, proof of the board's decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment and the terms for payment. (g) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the board shall not renew or reinstate the license of any licentiate who has failed to pay all of the costs ordered under this section. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the board may, in its discretion, conditionally renew or reinstate for a maximum of one year the license of any licentiate who demonstrates financial hardship and who enters into a formal agreement with the board to reimburse the board within that one-year period for the unpaid costs. (h) All costs recovered under this section shall be considered a reimbursement for costs incurred and shall be deposited in the fund of the board recovering the costs to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature. (i) Nothing in this section shall preclude a board from including the recovery of the costs of investigation and enforcement of a case in any stipulated settlement. (j) This section does not apply to any board if a specific statutory provision in that board's licensing act provides for recovery of costs in an administrative disciplinary proceeding.
125.3. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, in any order issued in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding before any board within the department or before the Osteopathic Medical Board, upon request of the entity bringing the proceeding, the administrative law judge may direct a licentiate found to have committed a violation or violations of the licensing act to pay a sum not to exceed the reasonable costs of the investigation and enforcement of the case. (b) In the case of a disciplined licentiate that is a corporation or a partnership, the order may be made against the licensed corporate entity or licensed partnership. (c) A certified copy of the actual costs, or a good faith estimate of costs where actual costs are not available, signed by the entity bringing the proceeding or its designated representative shall be prima facie evidence of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case. The costs shall include the amount of investigative and enforcement costs up to the date of the hearing, including, but not limited to, charges imposed by the Attorney General. (d) The administrative law judge shall make a proposed finding of the amount of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case when requested pursuant to subdivision (a). The finding of the administrative law judge with regard to costs shall not be reviewable by the board to increase the cost award. The board may reduce or eliminate the cost award, or remand to the administrative law judge if the proposed decision fails to make a finding on costs requested pursuant to subdivision (a). (e) If an order for recovery of costs is made and timely payment is not made as directed in the board's decision, the board may enforce the order for repayment in any appropriate court. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the board may have as to any licentiate to pay costs. (f) In any action for recovery of costs, proof of the board's decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment and the terms for payment. (g) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the board shall not renew or reinstate the license of any licentiate who has failed to pay all of the costs ordered under this section. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the board may, in its discretion, conditionally renew or reinstate for a maximum of one year the license of any licentiate who demonstrates financial hardship and who enters into a formal agreement with the board to reimburse the board within that one-year period for the unpaid costs. (h) All costs recovered under this section shall be considered a reimbursement for costs incurred and shall be deposited in the fund of the board recovering the costs to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature. (i) Nothing in this section shall preclude a board from including the recovery of the costs of investigation and enforcement of a case in any stipulated settlement. (j) This section does not apply to any board if a specific statutory provision in that board's licensing act provides for recovery of costs in an administrative disciplinary proceeding. (k) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Medical Board of California shall not request nor obtain from a physician and surgeon, investigation and prosecution costs for a disciplinary proceeding against the licentiate. The board shall ensure that this subdivision is revenue neutral with regard to it and that any loss of revenue or increase in costs resulting from this subdivision is offset by an increase in the amount of the initial license fee and the biennial renewal fee, as provided in subdivision (e) of Section 2435.
125.5. (a) The superior court for the county in which any person has engaged or is about to engage in any act which constitutes a violation of a chapter of this code administered or enforced by a board within the department may, upon a petition filed by the board with the approval of the director, issue an injunction or other appropriate order restraining such conduct. The proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. As used in this section, "board" includes commission, bureau, division, agency and a medical quality review committee. (b) The superior court for the county in which any person has engaged in any act which constitutes a violation of a chapter of this code administered or enforced by a board within the department may, upon a petition filed by the board with the approval of the director, order such person to make restitution to persons injured as a result of such violation. (c) The court may order a person subject to an injunction or restraining order, provided for in subdivision (a) of this section, or subject to an order requiring restitution pursuant to subdivision (b), to reimburse the petitioning board for expenses incurred by the board in its investigation related to its petition. (d) The remedy provided for by this section shall be in addition to, and not a limitation on, the authority provided for in any other section of this code.
125.6. (a) (1) With regard to an applicant, every person who holds a license under the provisions of this code is subject to disciplinary action under the disciplinary provisions of this code applicable to that person if, because of any characteristic listed or defined in subdivision (b) or (e) of Section 51 of the Civil Code, he or she refuses to perform the licensed activity or aids or incites the refusal to perform that licensed activity by another licensee, or if, because of any characteristic listed or defined in subdivision (b) or (e) of Section 51 of the Civil Code, he or she makes any discrimination, or restriction in the performance of the licensed activity. (2) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prevent a physician or health care professional licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) from considering any of the characteristics of a patient listed in subdivision (b) or (e) of Section 51 of the Civil Code if that consideration is medically necessary and for the sole purpose of determining the appropriate diagnosis or treatment of the patient. (3) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to apply to discrimination by employers with regard to employees or prospective employees, nor shall this section authorize action against any club license issued pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 23425) of Chapter 3 of Division 9 because of discriminatory membership policy. (4) The presence of architectural barriers to an individual with physical disabilities that conform to applicable state or local building codes and regulations shall not constitute discrimination under this section. (b) (1) Nothing in this section requires a person licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) to permit an individual to participate in, or benefit from, the licensed activity of the licensee where that individual poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. For this purpose, the term "direct threat" means a significant risk to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated by a modification of policies, practices, or procedures or by the provision of auxiliary aids and services. (2) Nothing in this section requires a person licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) to perform a licensed activity for which he or she is not qualified to perform. (c) (1) "Applicant," as used in this section, means a person applying for licensed services provided by a person licensed under this code. (2) "License," as used in this section, includes "certificate," "permit," "authority," and "registration" or any other indicia giving authorization to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code.
125.7. In addition to the remedy provided for in Section 125.5, the superior court for the county in which any licensee licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 500), or any initiative act referred to in that division, has engaged or is about to engage in any act that constitutes a violation of a chapter of this code administered or enforced by a board referred to in Division 2 (commencing with Section 500), may, upon a petition filed by the board and accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits in support thereof and a memorandum of points and authorities, issue a temporary restraining order or other appropriate order restraining the licensee from engaging in the business or profession for which the person is licensed or from any part thereof, in accordance with this section. (a) If the affidavits in support of the petition show that the licensee has engaged or is about to engage in acts or omissions constituting a violation of a chapter of this code and if the court is satisfied that permitting the licensee to continue to engage in the business or profession for which the license was issued will endanger the public health, safety, or welfare, the court may issue an order temporarily restraining the licensee from engaging in the profession for which he or she is licensed. (b) The order may not be issued without notice to the licensee unless it appears from facts shown by the affidavits that serious injury would result to the public before the matter can be heard on notice. (c) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this section, proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (d) When a restraining order is issued pursuant to this section, or within a time to be allowed by the superior court, but in any case not more than 30 days after the restraining order is issued, an accusation shall be filed with the board pursuant to Section 11503 of the Government Code or, in the case of a licensee of the State Department of Health Services, with that department pursuant to Section 100171 of the Health and Safety Code. The accusation shall be served upon the licensee as provided by Section 11505 of the Government Code. The licensee shall have all of the rights and privileges available as specified in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. However, if the licensee requests a hearing on the accusation, the board shall provide the licensee with a hearing within 30 days of the request and a decision within 15 days of the date the decision is received from the administrative law judge, or the court may nullify the restraining order previously issued. Any restraining order issued pursuant to this section shall be dissolved by operation of law at the time the board's decision is subject to judicial review pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (e) The remedy provided for in this section shall be in addition to, and not a limitation upon, the authority provided by any other provision of this code.
125.8. In addition to the remedy provided for in Section 125.5, the superior court for the county in which any licensee licensed under Division 3 (commencing with Section 5000) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18600) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 19000) of Division 8 has engaged or is about to engage in any act which constitutes a violation of a chapter of this code administered or enforced by a board referred to in Division 3 (commencing with Section 5000) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18600) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 19000) of Division 8 may, upon a petition filed by the board and accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits in support thereof and a memorandum of points and authorities, issue a temporary restraining order or other appropriate order restraining the licensee from engaging in the business or profession for which the person is licensed or from any part thereof, in accordance with the provisions of this section. (a) If the affidavits in support of the petition show that the licensee has engaged or is about to engage in acts or omissions constituting a violation of a chapter of this code and if the court is satisfied that permitting the licensee to continue to engage in the business or profession for which the license was issued will endanger the public health, safety, or welfare, the court may issue an order temporarily restraining the licensee from engaging in the profession for which he is licensed. (b) Such order may not be issued without notice to the licensee unless it appears from facts shown by the affidavits that serious injury would result to the public before the matter can be heard on notice. (c) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this section, proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (d) When a restraining order is issued pursuant to this section, or within a time to be allowed by the superior court, but in any case not more than 30 days after the restraining order is issued, an accusation shall be filed with the board pursuant to Section 11503 of the Government Code. The accusation shall be served upon the licensee as provided by Section 11505 of the Government Code. The licensee shall have all of the rights and privileges available as specified in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code; however, if the licensee requests a hearing on the accusation, the board must provide the licensee with a hearing within 30 days of the request and a decision within 15 days of the date of the conclusion of the hearing, or the court may nullify the restraining order previously issued. Any restraining order issued pursuant to this section shall be dissolved by operation of law at such time the board's decision is subject to judicial review pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
125.9. (a) Except with respect to persons regulated under Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 7500), and Chapter 11.6 (commencing with Section 7590) of Division 3, any board, bureau, or commission within the department, the board created by the Chiropractic Initiative Act, and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, may establish, by regulation, a system for the issuance to a licensee of a citation which may contain an order of abatement or an order to pay an administrative fine assessed by the board, bureau, or commission where the licensee is in violation of the applicable licensing act or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto. (b) The system shall contain the following provisions: (1) Citations shall be in writing and shall describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including specific reference to the provision of law determined to have been violated. (2) Whenever appropriate, the citation shall contain an order of abatement fixing a reasonable time for abatement of the violation. (3) In no event shall the administrative fine assessed by the board, bureau, or commission exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each inspection or each investigation made with respect to the violation, or five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation or count if the violation involves fraudulent billing submitted to an insurance company, the Medi-Cal program, or Medicare. In assessing a fine, the board, bureau, or commission shall give due consideration to the appropriateness of the amount of the fine with respect to factors such as the gravity of the violation, the good faith of the licensee, and the history of previous violations. (4) A citation or fine assessment issued pursuant to a citation shall inform the licensee that if he or she desires a hearing to contest the finding of a violation, that hearing shall be requested by written notice to the board, bureau, or commission within 30 days of the date of issuance of the citation or assessment. If a hearing is not requested pursuant to this section, payment of any fine shall not constitute an admission of the violation charged. Hearings shall be held pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (5) Failure of a licensee to pay a fine within 30 days of the date of assessment, unless the citation is being appealed, may result in disciplinary action being taken by the board, bureau, or commission. Where a citation is not contested and a fine is not paid, the full amount of the assessed fine shall be added to the fee for renewal of the license. A license shall not be renewed without payment of the renewal fee and fine. (c) The system may contain the following provisions: (1) A citation may be issued without the assessment of an administrative fine. (2) Assessment of administrative fines may be limited to only particular violations of the applicable licensing act. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a fine is paid to satisfy an assessment based on the finding of a violation, payment of the fine shall be represented as satisfactory resolution of the matter for purposes of public disclosure. (e) Administrative fines collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the special fund of the particular board, bureau, or commission.
126. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, any board, commission, examining committee, or other similarly constituted agency within the department required prior to the effective date of this section to submit reports to the Governor under any provision of this code shall not be required to submit such reports.
127. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the director may require such reports from any board, commission, examining committee, or other similarly constituted agency within the department as he deems reasonably necessary on any phase of their operations.
128. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is a misdemeanor to sell equipment, supplies, or services to any person with knowledge that the equipment, supplies, or services are to be used in the performance of a service or contract in violation of the licensing requirements of this code. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to cash sales of less than one hundred dollars ($100). For the purposes of this section, "person" includes, but is not limited to, a company, partnership, limited liability company, firm, or corporation. For the purposes of this section, "license" includes certificate or registration. A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months.
128.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if at the end of any fiscal year, an agency within the Department of Consumer Affairs, except the agencies referred to in subdivision (b), has unencumbered funds in an amount that equals or is more than the agency's operating budget for the next two fiscal years, the agency shall reduce license or other fees, whether the license or other fees be fixed by statute or may be determined by the agency within limits fixed by statute, during the following fiscal year in an amount that will reduce any surplus funds of the agency to an amount less than the agency's operating budget for the next two fiscal years. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if at the end of any fiscal year, the California Architects Board, the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Veterinary Medical Board, the Court Reporters Board of California, the Medical Board of California, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, or the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services has unencumbered funds in an amount that equals or is more than the agency's operating budget for the next two fiscal years, the agency shall reduce license or other fees, whether the license or other fees be fixed by statute or may be determined by the agency within limits fixed by statute, during the following fiscal year in an amount that will reduce any surplus funds of the agency to an amount less than the agency's operating budget for the next two fiscal years.
129. (a) As used in this section, "board" means every board, bureau, commission, committee and similarly constituted agency in the department which issues licenses. (b) Each board shall, upon receipt of any complaint respecting a licentiate thereof, notify the complainant of the initial administrative action taken on his complaint within 10 days of receipt. Each board shall thereafter notify the complainant of the final action taken on his complaint. There shall be a notification made in every case in which the complainant is known. If the complaint is not within the jurisdiction of the board or if the board is unable to dispose satisfactorily of the complaint, the board shall transmit the complaint together with any evidence or information it has concerning the complaint to the agency, public or private, whose authority in the opinion of the board will provide the most effective means to secure the relief sought. The board shall notify the complainant of such action and of any other means which may be available to the complainant to secure relief. (c) The board shall, when the board deems it appropriate, notify the person against whom the complaint is made of the nature of the complaint, may request appropriate relief for the complainant, and may meet and confer with the complainant and the licentiate in order to mediate the complaint. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as authorizing or requiring any board to set or to modify any fee charged by a licentiate. (d) It shall be the continuing duty of the board to ascertain patterns of complaints and to report on all actions taken with respect to such patterns of complaints to the director and to the Legislature at least once a year. The board shall evaluate those complaints dismissed for lack of jurisdiction or no violation and recommend to the director and to the Legislature at least once a year such statutory changes as it deems necessary to implement the board' s functions and responsibilities under this section. (e) It shall be the continuing duty of the board to take whatever action it deems necessary, with the approval of the director, to inform the public of its functions under this section.
130. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term of office of any member of an agency designated in subdivision (b) shall be for a term of four years expiring on June 1. (b) Subdivision (a) applies to the following boards or committees: (1) The Medical Board of California. (2) The California Board of Podiatric Medicine. (3) The Physical Therapy Board of California. (4) The Board of Registered Nursing. (5) The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. (6) The State Board of Optometry. (7) The California State Board of Pharmacy. (8) The Veterinary Medical Board. (9) The California Architects Board. (10) The Landscape Architect Technical Committee. (11) The Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. (12) The Contractors' State License Board. (13) The State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. (14) The Board of Behavioral Sciences. (15) The Court Reporters Board of California. (16) The State Athletic Commission. (17) The Osteopathic Medical Board of California. (18) The Respiratory Care Board of California. (19) The Acupuncture Board. (20) The Board of Psychology.
131. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no member of an agency designated in subdivision (b) of Section 130 or member of a board, commission, committee, or similarly constituted agency in the department shall serve more than two consecutive full terms.
132. No board, commission, examining committee, or any other agency within the department may institute or join any legal action against any other agency within the state or federal government without the permission of the director. Prior to instituting or joining in a legal action against an agency of the state or federal government, a board, commission, examining committee, or any other agency within the department shall present a written request to the director to do so. Within 30 days of receipt of the request, the director shall communicate his or her approval or denial of the request and his or her reasons for approval or denial to the requesting agency in writing. If the director does not act within 30 days, the request shall be deemed approved. A requesting agency within the department may override the director's denial of its request to institute or join a legal action against a state or federal agency by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board, commission, examining committee, or other agency, which vote shall include the vote of at least one public member of that board, commission, examining committee, or other agency.
134. When the term of any license issued by any agency in the department exceeds one year, initial license fees for licenses which are issued during a current license term shall be prorated on a yearly basis.
135. No agency in the department shall, on the basis of an applicant's failure to successfully complete prior examinations, impose any additional limitations, restrictions, prerequisites, or requirements on any applicant who wishes to participate in subsequent examinations except that any examining agency which allows an applicant conditional credit for successfully completing a divisible part of an examination may require that an applicant be reexamined in those parts successfully completed if such applicant has not successfully completed all parts of the examination within a required period of time established by the examining agency. Nothing in this section, however, requires the exemption of such applicant from the regular fees and requirements normally associated with examinations.
136. (a) Each person holding a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other authority to engage in a profession or occupation issued by a board within the department shall notify the issuing board at its principal office of any change in his or her mailing address within 30 days after the change, unless the board has specified by regulations a shorter time period. (b) Except as otherwise provided by law, failure of a licentiate to comply with the requirement in subdivision (a) constitutes grounds for the issuance of a citation and administrative fine, if the board has the authority to issue citations and administrative fines.
137. Any agency within the department may promulgate regulations requiring licensees to include their license numbers in any advertising, soliciting, or other presentments to the public. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize regulation of any person not a licensee who engages in advertising, solicitation, or who makes any other presentment to the public on behalf of a licensee. Such a person shall incur no liability pursuant to this section for communicating in any advertising, soliciting, or other presentment to the public a licensee's license number exactly as provided to him by the licensee or for failure to communicate such number if none is provided to him by the licensee.
138. Every board in the department, as defined in Section 22, shall initiate the process of adopting regulations on or before June 30, 1999, to require its licentiates, as defined in Section 23.8, to provide notice to their clients or customers that the practitioner is licensed by this state. A board shall be exempt from the requirement to adopt regulations pursuant to this section if the board has in place, in statute or regulation, a requirement that provides for consumer notice of a practitioner's status as a licensee of this state.
139. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that occupational analyses and examination validation studies are fundamental components of licensure programs. It is the intent of the Legislature that the policy developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) be used by the fiscal, policy, and sunset review committees of the Legislature in their annual reviews of these boards, programs, and bureaus. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall develop, in consultation with the boards, programs, bureaus, and divisions under its jurisdiction, and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, a policy regarding examination development and validation, and occupational analysis. The department shall finalize and distribute this policy by September 30, 1999, to each of the boards, programs, bureaus, and divisions under its jurisdiction and to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. This policy shall be submitted in draft form at least 30 days prior to that date to the appropriate fiscal, policy, and sunset review committees of the Legislature for review. This policy shall address, but shall not be limited to, the following issues: (1) An appropriate schedule for examination validation and occupational analyses, and circumstances under which more frequent reviews are appropriate. (2) Minimum requirements for psychometrically sound examination validation, examination development, and occupational analyses, including standards for sufficient number of test items. (3) Standards for review of state and national examinations. (4) Setting of passing standards. (5) Appropriate funding sources for examination validations and occupational analyses. (6) Conditions under which boards, programs, and bureaus should use internal and external entities to conduct these reviews. (7) Standards for determining appropriate costs of reviews of different types of examinations, measured in terms of hours required. (8) Conditions under which it is appropriate to fund permanent and limited term positions within a board, program, or bureau to manage these reviews. (c) Every regulatory board and bureau, as defined in Section 22, and every program and bureau administered by the department, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, shall submit to the director on or before December 1, 1999, and on or before December 1 of each subsequent year, its method for ensuring that every licensing examination administered by or pursuant to contract with the board is subject to periodic evaluation. The evaluation shall include (1) a description of the occupational analysis serving as the basis for the examination; (2) sufficient item analysis data to permit a psychometric evaluation of the items; (3) an assessment of the appropriateness of prerequisites for admittance to the examination; and (4) an estimate of the costs and personnel required to perform these functions. The evaluation shall be revised and a new evaluation submitted to the director whenever, in the judgment of the board, program, or bureau, there is a substantial change in the examination or the prerequisites for admittance to the examination. (d) The evaluation may be conducted by the board, program, or bureau, the Office of Professional Examination Services of the department, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, or the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners or pursuant to a contract with a qualified private testing firm. A board, program, or bureau that provides for development or administration of a licensing examination pursuant to contract with a public or private entity may rely on an occupational analysis or item analysis conducted by that entity. The department shall compile this information, along with a schedule specifying when examination validations and occupational analyses shall be performed, and submit it to the appropriate fiscal, policy, and sunset review committees of the Legislature by September 30 of each year. It is the intent of the Legislature that the method specified in this report be consistent with the policy developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (b).
140. Any board, as defined in Section 22, which is authorized under this code to take disciplinary action against a person who holds a license may take disciplinary action upon the ground that the licensee has failed to record and preserve for not less than three years, any and all cash transactions involved in the payment of employee wages by a licensee. Failure to make these records available to an authorized representative of the board may be made grounds for disciplinary action. In any action brought and sustained by the board which involves a violation of this section and any regulation adopted thereto, the board may assess the licensee with the actual investigative costs incurred, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). Failure to pay those costs may result in revocation of the license. Any moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the respective fund of the board.
141. (a) For any licensee holding a license issued by a board under the jurisdiction of the department, a disciplinary action taken by another state, by any agency of the federal government, or by another country for any act substantially related to the practice regulated by the California license, may be a ground for disciplinary action by the respective state licensing board. A certified copy of the record of the disciplinary action taken against the licensee by another state, an agency of the federal government, or another country shall be conclusive evidence of the events related therein. (b) Nothing in this section shall preclude a board from applying a specific statutory provision in the licensing act administered by that board that provides for discipline based upon a disciplinary action taken against the licensee by another state, an agency of the federal government, or another country.
142. This section shall apply to the bureaus and programs under the direct authority of the director, and to any board that, with the prior approval of the director, elects to have the department administer one or more of the licensing services set forth in this section. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each bureau and program may synchronize the renewal dates of licenses granted to applicants with more than one license issued by the bureau or program. To the extent practicable, fees shall be prorated or adjusted so that no applicant shall be required to pay a greater or lesser fee than he or she would have been required to pay if the change in renewal dates had not occurred. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the abandonment date for an application that has been returned to the applicant as incomplete shall be 12 months from the date of returning the application. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a delinquency, penalty, or late fee shall be assessed if the renewal fee is not postmarked by the renewal expiration date.
143. (a) No person engaged in any business or profession for which a license is required under this code governing the department or any board, bureau, commission, committee, or program within the department, may bring or maintain any action, or recover in law or equity in any action, in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract for which a license is required without alleging and proving that he or she was duly licensed at all times during the performance of that act or contract, regardless of the merits of the cause of action brought by the person. (b) The judicial doctrine of substantial compliance shall not apply to this section. (c) This section shall not apply to an act or contract that is considered to qualify as lawful practice of a licensed occupation or profession pursuant to Section 121.
144. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agency designated in subdivision (b) shall require an applicant to furnish to the agency a full set of fingerprints for purposes of conducting criminal history record checks. Any agency designated in subdivision (b) may obtain and receive, at its discretion, criminal history information from the Department of Justice and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. (b) Subdivision (a) applies to the following: (1) California Board of Accountancy. (2) State Athletic Commission. (3) Board of Behavioral Sciences. (4) Court Reporters Board of California. (5) State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. (6) California State Board of Pharmacy. (7) Board of Registered Nursing. (8) Veterinary Medical Board. (9) Registered Veterinary Technician Committee. (10) Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. (11) Respiratory Care Board of California. (12) Hearing Aid Dispensers Advisory Commission. (13) Physical Therapy Board of California. (14) Physician Assistant Committee of the Medical Board of California. (15) Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. (16) Medical Board of California. (17) State Board of Optometry. (18) Acupuncture Board. (19) Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. (20) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. (21) Division of Investigation. (22) Board of Psychology. (23) The California Board of Occupational Therapy. (24) Structural Pest Control Board. (25) Contractors' State License Board. (26) Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine. (27) The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau. (c) The provisions of paragraph (24) of subdivision (b) shall become operative on July 1, 2004. The provisions of paragraph (25) of subdivision (b) shall become operative on the date on which sufficient funds are available for the Contractors' State License Board and the Department of Justice to conduct a criminal history record check pursuant to this section or on July 1, 2005, whichever occurs first.
Ca Codes (bpc:145-149) Business And Professions Code
145. The Legislature finds and declares that: (a) Unlicensed activity in the professions and vocations regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs is a threat to the health, welfare, and safety of the people of the State of California. (b) The law enforcement agencies of the state should have sufficient, effective, and responsible means available to enforce the licensing laws of the state. (c) The criminal sanction for unlicensed activity should be swift, effective, appropriate, and create a strong incentive to obtain a license.
146. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a violation of any code section listed in subdivision (c) is an infraction subject to the procedures described in Sections 19.6 and 19.7 of the Penal Code when either of the following applies: (1) A complaint or a written notice to appear in court pursuant to Chapter 5c (commencing with Section 853.5) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code is filed in court charging the offense as an infraction unless the defendant, at the time he or she is arraigned, after being advised of his or her rights, elects to have the case proceed as a misdemeanor. (2) The court, with the consent of the defendant and the prosecution, determines that the offense is an infraction in which event the case shall proceed as if the defendant has been arraigned on an infraction complaint. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a violation of the code sections listed in subdivision (c) if the defendant has had his or her license, registration, or certificate previously revoked or suspended. (c) The following sections require registration, licensure, certification, or other authorization in order to engage in certain businesses or professions regulated by this code: (1) Sections 2052 and 2054. (2) Section 2630. (3) Section 2903. (4) Section 3660. (5) Sections 3760 and 3761. (6) Section 4080. (7) Section 4825. (8) Section 4935. (9) Section 4980. (10) Section 4996. (11) Section 5536. (12) Section 6704. (13) Section 6980.10. (14) Section 7317. (15) Section 7502 or 7592. (16) Section 7520. (17) Section 7617 or 7641. (18) Subdivision (a) of Section 7872. (19) Section 8016. (20) Section 8505. (21) Section 8725. (22) Section 9681. (23) Section 9840. (24) Subdivision (c) of Section 9891.24. (25) Section 19049. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a violation of any of the sections listed in subdivision (c), which is an infraction, is punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). No portion of the minimum fine may be suspended by the court unless as a condition of that suspension the defendant is required to submit proof of a current valid license, registration, or certificate for the profession or vocation which was the basis for his or her conviction.
147. (a) Any employee designated by the director shall have the authority to issue a written notice to appear in court pursuant to Chapter 5c (commencing with Section 853.5) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code. Employees so designated are not peace officers and are not entitled to safety member retirement benefits, as a result of such designation. The employee's authority is limited to the issuance of written notices to appear for infraction violations of provisions of this code and only when the violation is committed in the presence of the employee. (b) There shall be no civil liability on the part of, and no cause of action shall arise against, any person, acting pursuant to subdivision (a) and within the scope of his or her authority, for false arrest or false imprisonment arising out of any arrest which is lawful or which the person, at the time of such arrest, had reasonable cause to believe was lawful.
148. Any board, bureau, or commission within the department may, in addition to the administrative citation system authorized by Section 125.9, also establish, by regulation, a similar system for the issuance of an administrative citation to an unlicensed person who is acting in the capacity of a licensee or registrant under the jurisdiction of that board, bureau, or commission. The administrative citation system authorized by this section shall meet the requirements of Section 125.9 and may not be applied to an unlicensed person who is otherwise exempted from the provisions of the applicable licensing act. The establishment of an administrative citation system for unlicensed activity does not preclude the use of other enforcement statutes for unlicensed activities at the discretion of the board, bureau, or commission.
149. (a) If, upon investigation, an agency designated in subdivision (e) has probable cause to believe that a person is advertising in a telephone directory with respect to the offering or performance of services, without being properly licensed by or registered with the agency to offer or perform those services, the agency may issue a citation under Section 148 containing an order of correction that requires the violator to do both of the following: (1) Cease the unlawful advertising. (2) Notify the telephone company furnishing services to the violator to disconnect the telephone service furnished to any telephone number contained in the unlawful advertising. (b) This action is stayed if the person to whom a citation is issued under subdivision (a) notifies the agency in writing that he or she intends to contest the citation. The agency shall afford an opportunity for a hearing, as specified in Section 125.9. (c) If the person to whom a citation and order of correction is issued under subdivision (a) fails to comply with the order of correction after that order is final, the agency shall inform the Public Utilities Commission of the violation and the Public Utilities Commission shall require the telephone corporation furnishing services to that person to disconnect the telephone service furnished to any telephone number contained in the unlawful advertising. (d) The good faith compliance by a telephone corporation with an order of the Public Utilities Commission to terminate service issued pursuant to this section shall constitute a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought against the telephone corporation arising from the termination of service. (e) Subdivision (a) shall apply to the following boards, bureaus, committees, commissions, or programs: (1) The Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology. (2) The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. (3) The Veterinary Medical Board. (4) The Landscape Architects Technical Committee. (5) The California Board of Podiatric Medicine. (6) The Respiratory Care Board of California. (7) The Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation. (8) The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. (9) The Bureau of Automotive Repair. (10) The California Architects Board. (11) The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board. (12) The Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. (13) The Board of Behavioral Sciences. (14) The Structural Pest Control Board within the Department of Pesticide Regulation. (15) The Acupuncture Board. (16) The Board of Psychology. (17) The California Board of Accountancy. (18) The Naturopathic Medicine Committee. (19) The Physical Therapy Board of California. (20) The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
Ca Codes (bpc:150-166) Business And Professions Code
Section 150-166
150. The department is under the control of a civil executive officer who is known as the Director of Consumer Affairs.
151. The director is appointed by the Governor and holds office at the Governor's pleasure. The director shall receive the annual salary provided for by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and his or her necessary traveling expenses.
152. For the purpose of administration, the reregistration and clerical work of the department is organized by the director, subject to the approval of the Governor, in such manner as he deems necessary properly to segregate and conduct the work of the department.
152.5. For purposes of distributing the reregistration work of the department uniformly throughout the year as nearly as practicable, the boards in the department may, with the approval of the director, extend by not more than six months the date fixed by law for the renewal of any license, certificate or permit issued by them, except that in such event any renewal fee which may be involved shall be prorated in such manner that no person shall be required to pay a greater or lesser fee than would have been required had the change in renewal dates not occurred.
152.6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, each board within the department shall, in cooperation with the director, establish such license periods and renewal dates for all licenses in such manner as best to distribute the renewal work of all boards throughout each year and permit the most efficient, and economical use of personnel and equipment. To the extent practicable, provision shall be made for the proration or other adjustment of fees in such manner that no person shall be required to pay a greater or lesser fee than he would have been required to pay if the change in license periods or renewal dates had not occurred. As used in this section "license" includes "certificate," "permit," "authority," "registration," and similar indicia of authority to engage in a business or profession, and "board" includes "board," "commission," "committee," and an individual who is authorized to renew a license.
153. The director may investigate the work of the several boards in his department and may obtain a copy of all records and full and complete data in all official matters in possession of the boards, their members, officers, or employees, other than examination questions prior to submission to applicants at scheduled examinations.
153.5. In the event that a newly authorized board replaces an existing or a previous board, the director may appoint an interim executive officer for the board who shall serve temporarily until the new board appoints a permanent executive officer.
154. Any and all matters relating to employment, tenure or discipline of employees of any board, agency or commission, shall be initiated by said board, agency or commission, but all such actions shall, before reference to the State Personnel Board, receive the approval of the appointing power. To effect the purposes of Division 1 of this code and each agency of the department, employment of all personnel shall be in accord with Article XXIV of the Constitution, the law and rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board. Each board, agency or commission, shall select its employees from a list of eligibles obtained by the appointing power from the State Personnel Board. The person selected by the board, agency or commission to fill any position or vacancy shall thereafter be reported by the board, agency or commission, to the appointing power.
154.2. (a) The healing arts boards within Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) may employ individuals, other than peace officers, to perform investigative services. (b) The healing arts boards within Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) may employ individuals to serve as experts.
154.5. If a person, not a regular employee of a board under this code, including the Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, is hired or under contract to provide expertise to the board in the evaluation of an applicant or the conduct of a licensee, and that person is named as a defendant in a civil action arising out of the evaluation or any opinions rendered, statements made, or testimony given to the board or its representatives, the board shall provide for representation required to defend the defendant in that civil action. The board shall not be liable for any judgment rendered against the person. The Attorney General shall be utilized in the action and his or her services shall be a charge against the board.
155. (a) In accordance with Section 159.5, the director may employ such investigators, inspectors, and deputies as are necessary properly to investigate and prosecute all violations of any law, the enforcement of which is charged to the department or to any board, agency, or commission in the department. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that inspectors used by boards, bureaus, or commissions in the department shall not be required to be employees of the Division of Investigation, but may either be employees of, or under contract to, the boards, bureaus, or commissions. Contracts for services shall be consistent with Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 6 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code. All civil service employees currently employed as inspectors whose functions are transferred as a result of this section shall retain their positions, status, and rights in accordance with Section 19994.10 of the Government Code and the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (c) Nothing in this section limits the authority of, or prohibits, investigators in the Division of Investigation in the conduct of inspections or investigations of any licensee, or in the conduct of investigations of any officer or employee of a board or the department at the specific request of the director or his or her designee.
156. (a) The director may, for the department and at the request and with the consent of a board within the department on whose behalf the contract is to be made, enter into contracts pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 11250) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code for and on behalf of any board within the department. (b) In accordance with subdivision (a), the director may, in his or her discretion, negotiate and execute contracts for examination purposes which include provisions which hold harmless a contractor where liability resulting from a contract between a board in the department and the contractor is traceable to the state or its officers, agents, or employees.
156.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, individuals or entities contracting with the department or any board within the department for the provision of services relating to the treatment and rehabilitation of licentiates impaired by alcohol or dangerous drugs shall retain all records and documents pertaining to those services until such time as these records and documents have been reviewed for audit by the department. These records and documents shall be retained for three years from the date of the last treatment or service rendered to that licentiate, after which time the records and documents may be purged and destroyed by the contract vendor. This provision shall supersede any other provision of law relating to the purging or destruction of records pertaining to those treatment and rehabilitation programs. (b) Unless otherwise expressly provided by statute or regulation, all records and documents pertaining to services for the treatment and rehabilitation of licentiates impaired by alcohol or dangerous drugs provided by any contract vendor to the department or to any board within the department shall be kept confidential and are not subject to discovery or subpoena. (c) With respect to all other contracts for services with the department or any board within the department other than those set forth in subdivision (a), the director or chief deputy director may request an examination and audit by the department's internal auditor of all performance under the contract. For this purpose, all documents and records of the contract vendor in connection with such performance shall be retained by such vendor for a period of three years after final payment under the contract. Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of the State Auditor to conduct any examination or audit under the terms of Section 8546.7 of the Government Code.
156.5. The director may negotiate and execute for the department and for its component agencies, rental agreements for short-term hiring of space and furnishings for examination or meeting purposes. The director may, in his or her discretion, negotiate and execute contracts for that space which include provisions which hold harmless the provider of the space where liability resulting from use of the space under the contract is traceable to the state or its officers, agents, or employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the director may, in his or her discretion, advance payments as deposits to reserve and hold examination or meeting space. Any such agreement is subject to the approval of the legal office of the Department of General Services.
157. Expenses incurred by any board or on behalf of any board in any criminal prosecution or unprofessional conduct proceeding constitute proper charges against the funds of the board.
158. With the approval of the Director of Consumer Affairs, the boards and commissions comprising the department or subject to its jurisdiction may make refunds to applicants who are found ineligible to take the examinations or whose credentials are insufficient to entitle them to certificates or licenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of law any application fees, license fees or penalties imposed and collected illegally, by mistake, inadvertence, or error shall be refunded. Claims authorized by the department shall be filed with the State Controller, and the Controller shall draw his warrant against the fund of the agency in payment of such refund.
159. The members and the executive officer of each board, agency, bureau, division, or commission have power to administer oaths and affirmations in the performance of any business of the board, and to certify to official acts.
159.5. There is in the department the Division of Investigation. The division is in the charge of a person with the title of chief of the division. Except as provided in Section 160, investigators who have the authority of peace officers, as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 160 and in subdivision (a) of Section 830.3 of the Penal Code, shall be in the division and shall be appointed by the director.
160. (a) The Chief and all investigators of the Division of Investigation of the department and all investigators of the Medical Board of California and the Dental Board of California have the authority of peace officers while engaged in exercising the powers granted or performing the duties imposed upon them or the division in investigating the laws administered by the various boards comprising the department or commencing directly or indirectly any criminal prosecution arising from any investigation conducted under these laws. All persons herein referred to shall be deemed to be acting within the scope of employment with respect to all acts and matters set forth in this section. (b) The Division of Investigation of the department, the Medical Board of California, and the Dental Board of California may employ individuals, who are not peace officers, to provide investigative services.
160.5. All civil service employees currently employed by the Board of Dental Examiners of the Department of Consumer Affairs, whose functions are transferred as a result of the act adding this section shall retain their positions, status, and rights pursuant to Section 19050.9 of the Government Code and the State Civil Service Act, Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The transfer of employees as a result of the act adding this section shall occur no later than July 1, 1999.
161. The department, or any board in the department, may sell copies of any part of its respective public records, or compilations, extracts, or summaries of information contained in its public records, at a charge sufficient to pay the actual cost thereof. Such charge, and the conditions under which sales may be made, shall be determined by the director with the approval of the Department of General Services.
162. The certificate of the officer in charge of the records of any board in the department that any person was or was not on a specified date, or during a specified period of time, licensed, certified or registered under the provisions of law administered by the board, or that the license, certificate or registration of any person was revoked or under suspension, shall be admitted in any court as prima facie evidence of the facts therein recited.
163. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the department and each board in the department shall charge a fee of two dollars ($2) for the certification of a copy of any record, document, or paper in its custody or for the certification of any document evidencing the content of any such record, document or paper.
163.5. Except as otherwise provided by law, the delinquency, penalty, or late fee for any licensee within the Department of Consumer Affairs shall be 50 percent of the renewal fee for such license in effect on the date of the renewal of the license, but not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150). A delinquency, penalty, or late fee shall not be assessed until 30 days have elapsed from the date that the licensing agency mailed a notice of renewal to the licensee at the licensee's last known address of record. The notice shall specify the date for timely renewal, and that failure to renew in a timely fashion shall result in the assessment of a delinquency, penalty, or late fee. In the event a reinstatement or like fee is charged for the reinstatement of a license, the reinstatement fee shall be 150 percent of the renewal fee for such license in effect on the date of the reinstatement of the license, but not more than twenty-five dollars ($25) in excess of the renewal fee, except that in the event that such a fee is fixed by statute at less than 150 percent of the renewal fee and less than the renewal fee plus twenty-five dollars ($25), the fee so fixed shall be charged.
164. The form and content of any license, certificate, permit, or similar indicia of authority issued by any agency in the department, including any document evidencing renewal of a license, certificate, permit, or similar indicia of authority, shall be determined by the director after consultation with and consideration of the views of the agency concerned.
165. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no board, bureau, committee, commission, or program in the Department of Consumer Affairs shall submit to the Legislature any fiscal impact analysis relating to legislation pending before the Legislature until the analysis has been submitted to the Director of Consumer Affairs, or his or her designee, for review and comment. The boards, bureaus, committees, commissions, and programs shall include the comments of the director when submitting any fiscal impact analysis to the Legislature. This section shall not be construed to prohibit boards, bureaus, committees, commissions, and programs from responding to direct requests for fiscal data from Members of the Legislature or their staffs. In those instances it shall be the responsibility of boards, bureaus, committees, commissions, and programs to also transmit that information to the director, or his or her designee, within five working days.
166. The director shall, by regulation, develop guidelines to prescribe components for mandatory continuing education programs administered by any board within the department. (a) The guidelines shall be developed to ensure that mandatory continuing education is used as a means to create a more competent licensing population, thereby enhancing public protection. The guidelines shall require mandatory continuing education programs to address, at least, the following: (1) Course validity. (2) Occupational relevancy. (3) Effective presentation. (4) Actual attendance. (5) Material assimilation. (6) Potential for application. (b) The director shall consider educational principles, and the guidelines shall prescribe mandatory continuing education program formats to include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) The specified audience. (2) Identification of what is to be learned. (3) Clear goals and objectives. (4) Relevant learning methods (participatory, hands-on, or clinical setting). (5) Evaluation, focused on the learner and the assessment of the intended learning outcomes (goals and objectives). (c) Any board within the department that, after January 1, 1993, proposes a mandatory continuing education program for its licensees shall submit the proposed program to the director for review to assure that the program contains all the elements set forth in this section and complies with the guidelines developed by the director. (d) Any board administering a mandatory continuing education program that proposes to amend its current program shall do so in a manner consistent with this section. (e) Any board currently administering a mandatory continuing education program shall review the components and requirements of the program to determine the extent to which they are consistent with the guidelines developed under this section. The board shall submit a report of their findings to the director. The report shall identify the similarities and differences of its mandatory continuing education program. The report shall include any board-specific needs to explain the variation from the director's guidelines. (f) Any board administering a mandatory continuing education program, when accepting hours for credit which are obtained out of state, shall ensure that the course for which credit is given is administered in accordance with the guidelines addressed in subdivision (a). (g) Nothing in this section or in the guidelines adopted by the director shall be construed to repeal any requirements for continuing education programs set forth in any other provision of this code.
Ca Codes (bpc:200-210) Business And Professions Code
Section 200-210
200. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, any revenues, collections, or receipts accruing to any board in the department may, in the manner determined by the director and with the consent of the board concerned, be received and deposited by the department, and in such case shall be accounted for to the board and remitted by the department to the State Treasury in accordance with law for credit to the fund of such board. Notwithstanding Section 158 of this code, all refunds shall be made by the department with the consent of the board.
200.1. (a) Any accruals that occur on or after September 11, 1993, to any funds or accounts within the Professions and Vocations Fund that realize increased revenues to that fund or account as a result of legislation enacted on or after September 11, 1993, and that have not been transferred pursuant to Sections 13.50, 13.60, and 13.70 of the Budget Act of 1993 on the effective date of the act that enacted this section, shall be exempt from the transfers contained in Sections 13.50, 13.60, and 13.70 of the Budget Act of 1993. These funds shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) Athletic Commission Fund. (2) Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation Fund. (3) Contractors' License Fund. (4) Private Investigator Fund. (5) Respiratory Care Fund. (6) Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians Fund. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California.
201. A charge for the estimated administrative expenses of the department, not to exceed the available balance in any appropriation for any one fiscal year, may be levied in advance on a pro rata share basis against any of the funds of any of the boards, bureaus, commissions, divisions, and agencies, at the discretion of the director and with the approval of the Department of Finance.
202. (a) Upon proper presentation of claims by the department to the State Controller, the State Controller shall draw his or her warrant against any of the funds of any one of the boards to cover its share of the estimated administrative expenses of the department. The fund of one board shall not be used to pay the expenses of any other board. (b) Nothing in this section or in Section 401 shall prohibit the transfer of funds for a release time bank of any board, commission, or bureau of the department pursuant to a memorandum of understanding on the same terms and conditions applicable to other state agencies.
202.5. Prior to payment to the Department of Justice of any charges for legal services rendered to any board within the department, the Department of Justice shall submit to the board an itemized statement of the services and charges. The itemized statement shall include detailed information regarding the services performed and the amount of time billed for each of those services.
203. The amount of the warrant shall be remitted to the State Treasurer by the department for credit to the Consumer Affairs Fund. The department shall pay all of its necessary administrative expenses out of the Consumer Affairs Fund.
204. A sum, not to exceed 1 percent of the total amount appropriated for all of the boards herein mentioned may be withdrawn from the Consumer Affairs Fund without at the time furnishing vouchers and itemized statements. This sum shall be used as a revolving fund where cash advances are necessary, and at the close of each biennium, or at any other time, upon demand of the Department of Finance, shall be accounted for and substantiated by vouchers and itemized statements submitted to and audited by the State Controller.
205. (a) There is in the State Treasury the Professions and Vocations Fund. The fund shall consist of the following special funds: (1) Accountancy Fund. (2) California Architects Board Fund. (3) Athletic Commission Fund. (4) Barbering and Cosmetology Contingent Fund. (5) Cemetery Fund. (6) Contractors' License Fund. (7) State Dentistry Fund. (8) State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Fund. (9) Guide Dogs for the Blind Fund. (10) Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation Fund. (11) California Architects Board-Landscape Architects Fund. (12) Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California. (13) Optometry Fund. (14) Pharmacy Board Contingent Fund. (15) Physical Therapy Fund. (16) Private Investigator Fund. (17) Professional Engineers' and Land Surveyors' Fund. (18) Consumer Affairs Fund. (19) Behavioral Sciences Fund. (20) Licensed Midwifery Fund. (21) Court Reporters' Fund. (22) Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund. (23) Vocational Nurses Account of the Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians Fund. (24) Electronic and Appliance Repair Fund. (25) Geology and Geophysics Fund. (26) Dispensing Opticians Fund. (27) Acupuncture Fund. (28) Physician Assistant Fund. (29) Board of Podiatric Medicine Fund. (30) Psychology Fund. (31) Respiratory Care Fund. (32) Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Fund. (33) Board of Registered Nursing Fund. (34) Psychiatric Technician Examiners Account of the Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians Fund. (35) Animal Health Technician Examining Committee Fund. (36) State Dental Hygiene Fund. (37) State Dental Assistant Fund. (38) Hearing Aid Dispensers Account of the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Fund. (b) For accounting and recordkeeping purposes, the Professions and Vocations Fund shall be deemed to be a single special fund, and each of the several special funds therein shall constitute and be deemed to be a separate account in the Professions and Vocations Fund. Each account or fund shall be available for expenditure only for the purposes as are now or may hereafter be provided by law.
206. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person tendering a check for payment of a fee, fine, or penalty that was subsequently dishonored, shall not be granted a license, or other authority that they were seeking, until the applicant pays the amount outstanding from the dishonored payment together with the applicable fee, including any delinquency fee. The board may require the person whose check was returned unpaid to make payment of all fees by cashier's check or money order.
207. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the money in any fund described in Section 205 that is attributable to administrative fines, civil penalties, and criminal penalties imposed by a regulating entity, or cost recovery by a regulating entity from enforcement actions and case settlements, shall not be continuously appropriated. The money in each fund that is not continuously appropriated shall be available for expenditure as provided in this code only upon appropriation by the Legislature. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the annual Budget Act may appropriate, in a single budget item for each individual fund described in paragraphs (1) to (40), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 205, the entire amount available for expenditure in the budget year for that fund. That appropriation may include funds that are continuously appropriated and funds that are not continuously appropriated.
210. (a) (1) The department may enter into a contract with a vendor for the BreEZe system, the integrated, enterprisewide enforcement case management and licensing system described in the department's strategic plan, no sooner than 30 days after notification in writing to the chairpersons of the Appropriations Committees of each house of the Legislature and the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. (2) The amount of BreEZe system vendor contract funds, authorized pursuant to this section, shall be consistent with the project costs approved by the office of the State Chief Information Officer based on its review and approval of the most recent BreEZe Special Project Report to be submitted by the department prior to contract award at the conclusion of procurement activities. (3) Paragraph (2) shall apply to all Budget Act items for the department that have an appropriation for the BreEZe system. (b) (1) If the department enters into a contract with a vendor for the BreEZe system pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall, by December 31, 2014, submit to the Legislature, the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development, the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protection, and the budget committees of each house, a report analyzing the workload of licensing personnel employed by boards within the department participating in the BreEZe system. (2) A report to the Legislature pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (3) This subdivision shall become inoperative on December 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
Ca Codes (bpc:300-303) Business And Professions Code
Section 300-303
300. This chapter may be cited as the Consumer Affairs Act.
301. It is the intent of the Legislature and the purpose of this chapter to promote and protect the interests of the people as consumers. The Legislature finds that vigorous representation and protection of consumer interests are essential to the fair and efficient functioning of a free enterprise market economy. The Legislature declares that government advances the interests of consumers by facilitating the proper functioning of the free enterprise market economy through (a) educating and informing the consumer to insure rational consumer choice in the marketplace; (b) protecting the consumer from the sale of goods and services through the use of deceptive methods, acts, or practices which are inimical to the general welfare of consumers; (c) fostering competition; and (d) promoting effective representation of consumers' interests in all branches and levels of government.
302. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Affairs. (b) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs. (c) "Consumer" means any individual who seeks or acquires, by purchase or lease, any goods, services, money, or credit for personal, family, or household purposes. (d) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, or other group, however organized. (e) "Individual" does not include a partnership, corporation, association, or other group, however organized. (f) "Division" means the Division of Consumer Services. (g) "Interests of consumers" is limited to the cost, quality, purity, safety, durability, performance, effectiveness, dependability, availability, and adequacy of choice of goods and services offered or furnished to consumers and the adequacy and accuracy of information relating to consumer goods, services, money, or credit (including labeling, packaging, and advertising of contents, qualities, and terms of sales).
303. There is in the department a Division of Consumer Services under the supervision and control of a chief. The chief shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. His compensation shall be fixed by the director in accordance with law.
Article 2. Director And Employees
Ca Codes (bpc:305-307) Business And Professions Code
Section 305-307
305. The director shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. Every power granted or duty imposed upon the director under this chapter may be exercised or performed in the name of the director by a deputy or assistant director or the chief of the department's Division of Consumer Services, subject to such conditions and limitations as the director may prescribe.
306. The director, in accordance with the State Civil Service Act, may appoint and fix the compensation of such clerical or other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. All such personnel shall perform their respective duties under the supervision and the direction of the director.
307. The director may contract for the services of experts and consultants where necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and may provide compensation and reimbursement of expenses for such experts and consultants in accordance with state law.
Ca Codes (bpc:310-313.5) Business And Professions Code
Section 310-313.5
310. The director shall have the following powers and it shall be his duty to: (a) Recommend and propose the enactment of such legislation as necessary to protect and promote the interests of consumers. (b) Represent the consumer's interests before federal and state legislative hearings and executive commissions. (c) Assist, advise, and cooperate with federal, state, and local agencies and officials to protect and promote the interests of consumers. (d) Study, investigate, research, and analyze matters affecting the interests of consumers. (e) Hold public hearings, subpoena witnesses, take testimony, compel the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence, and call upon other state agencies for information. (f) Propose and assist in the creation and development of consumer education programs. (g) Promote ethical standards of conduct for business and consumers and undertake activities to encourage public responsibility in the production, promotion, sale and lease of consumer goods and services. (h) Advise the Governor and Legislature on all matters affecting the interests of consumers. (i) Exercise and perform such other functions, powers and duties as may be deemed appropriate to protect and promote the interests of consumers as directed by the Governor or the Legislature. (j) Maintain contact and liaison with consumer groups in California and nationally.
311. The director may create an interdepartmental committee to assist and advise him in the implementation of his duties. The members of such committee shall consist of the heads of state departments, or their designees. Members of such committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
312. The director shall submit to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2003, and annually thereafter, a report of programmatic and statistical information regarding the activities of the department and its constituent entities. The report shall include information concerning the director's activities pursuant to Section 326, including the number and general patterns of consumer complaints and the action taken on those complaints.
313. The director shall provide for the establishment of a comprehensive library of books, documents, studies, and other materials relating to consumers and consumer problems.
313.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no rule or regulation, except those relating to examinations and qualifications for licensure, and no fee change proposed or promulgated by any of the boards, commissions, or committees within the department, shall take effect pending compliance with this section. (b) The director shall be formally notified of and shall be provided a full opportunity to review, in accordance with the requirements of Article 5 (commencing with Section 11346) of Chapter 3.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and this section, all of the following: (1) All notices of proposed action, any modifications and supplements thereto, and the text of proposed regulations. (2) Any notices of sufficiently related changes to regulations previously noticed to the public, and the text of proposed regulations showing modifications to the text. (3) Final rulemaking records. (c) The submission of all notices and final rulemaking records to the director and the completion of the director's review, as authorized by this section, shall be a precondition to the filing of any rule or regulation with the Office of Administrative Law. The Office of Administrative Law shall have no jurisdiction to review a rule or regulation subject to this section until after the completion of the director's review and only then if the director has not disapproved it. The filing of any document with the Office of Administrative Law shall be accompanied by a certification that the board, commission, or committee has complied with the requirements of this section. (d) Following the receipt of any final rulemaking record subject to subdivision (a), the director shall have the authority for a period of 30 days to disapprove a proposed rule or regulation on the ground that it is injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare. (e) Final rulemaking records shall be filed with the director within the one-year notice period specified in Section 11346.4 of the Government Code. If necessary for compliance with this section, the one-year notice period may be extended, as specified by this subdivision. (1) In the event that the one-year notice period lapses during the director's 30-day review period, or within 60 days following the notice of the director's disapproval, it may be extended for a maximum of 90 days. (2) If the director approves the final rulemaking record or declines to take action on it within 30 days, the board, commission, or committee shall have five days from the receipt of the record from the director within which to file it with the Office of Administrative Law. (3) If the director disapproves a rule or regulation, it shall have no force or effect unless, within 60 days of the notice of disapproval, (A) the disapproval is overridden by a unanimous vote of the members of the board, commission, or committee, and (B) the board, commission, or committee files the final rulemaking record with the Office of Administrative Law in compliance with this section and the procedures required by Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the director from affirmatively approving a proposed rule, regulation, or fee change at any time within the 30-day period after it has been submitted to him or her, in which event it shall become effective upon compliance with this section and the procedures required by Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
313.2. The director shall adopt regulations to implement, interpret, and make specific the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (P.L. 101-336), as they relate to the examination process for professional licensing and certification programs under the purview of the department.
313.5. The director shall periodically publish a bibliography of consumer information available in the department library and elsewhere. Such bibliography shall be sent to subscribers upon payment of a reasonable fee therefor.
Article 3.5. Consumer Advisory Council
Article 3.6. Uniform Standards Regarding Substance-abusing Healing Arts Licensees
Ca Codes (bpc:315-315.4) Business And Professions Code
Section 315-315.4
315. (a) For the purpose of determining uniform standards that will be used by healing arts boards in dealing with substance-abusing licensees, there is established in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Substance Abuse Coordination Committee. The committee shall be comprised of the executive officers of the department's healing arts boards established pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500), the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and a designee of the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. The Director of Consumer Affairs shall chair the committee and may invite individuals or stakeholders who have particular expertise in the area of substance abuse to advise the committee. (b) The committee shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (c) By January 1, 2010, the committee shall formulate uniform and specific standards in each of the following areas that each healing arts board shall use in dealing with substance-abusing licensees, whether or not a board chooses to have a formal diversion program: (1) Specific requirements for a clinical diagnostic evaluation of the licensee, including, but not limited to, required qualifications for the providers evaluating the licensee. (2) Specific requirements for the temporary removal of the licensee from practice, in order to enable the licensee to undergo the clinical diagnostic evaluation described in paragraph (1) and any treatment recommended by the evaluator described in paragraph (1) and approved by the board, and specific criteria that the licensee must meet before being permitted to return to practice on a full-time or part-time basis. (3) Specific requirements that govern the ability of the licensing board to communicate with the licensee's employer about the licensee' s status and condition. (4) Standards governing all aspects of required testing, including, but not limited to, frequency of testing, randomness, method of notice to the licensee, number of hours between the provision of notice and the test, standards for specimen collectors, procedures used by specimen collectors, the permissible locations of testing, whether the collection process must be observed by the collector, backup testing requirements when the licensee is on vacation or otherwise unavailable for local testing, requirements for the laboratory that analyzes the specimens, and the required maximum timeframe from the test to the receipt of the result of the test. (5) Standards governing all aspects of group meeting attendance requirements, including, but not limited to, required qualifications for group meeting facilitators, frequency of required meeting attendance, and methods of documenting and reporting attendance or nonattendance by licensees. (6) Standards used in determining whether inpatient, outpatient, or other type of treatment is necessary. (7) Worksite monitoring requirements and standards, including, but not limited to, required qualifications of worksite monitors, required methods of monitoring by worksite monitors, and required reporting by worksite monitors. (8) Procedures to be followed when a licensee tests positive for a banned substance. (9) Procedures to be followed when a licensee is confirmed to have ingested a banned substance. (10) Specific consequences for major violations and minor violations. In particular, the committee shall consider the use of a "deferred prosecution" stipulation similar to the stipulation described in Section 1000 of the Penal Code, in which the licensee admits to self-abuse of drugs or alcohol and surrenders his or her license. That agreement is deferred by the agency unless or until the licensee commits a major violation, in which case it is revived and the license is surrendered. (11) Criteria that a licensee must meet in order to petition for return to practice on a full-time basis. (12) Criteria that a licensee must meet in order to petition for reinstatement of a full and unrestricted license. (13) If a board uses a private-sector vendor that provides diversion services, standards for immediate reporting by the vendor to the board of any and all noncompliance with any term of the diversion contract or probation; standards for the vendor's approval process for providers or contractors that provide diversion services, including, but not limited to, specimen collectors, group meeting facilitators, and worksite monitors; standards requiring the vendor to disapprove and discontinue the use of providers or contractors that fail to provide effective or timely diversion services; and standards for a licensee's termination from the program and referral to enforcement. (14) If a board uses a private-sector vendor that provides diversion services, the extent to which licensee participation in that program shall be kept confidential from the public. (15) If a board uses a private-sector vendor that provides diversion services, a schedule for external independent audits of the vendor's performance in adhering to the standards adopted by the committee. (16) Measurable criteria and standards to determine whether each board's method of dealing with substance-abusing licensees protects patients from harm and is effective in assisting its licensees in recovering from substance abuse in the long term.
315.2. (a) A board, as described in Section 315, shall order a licensee of the board to cease practice if the licensee tests positive for any substance that is prohibited under the terms of the licensee's probation or diversion program. (b) An order to cease practice under this section shall not be governed by the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (c) A cease practice order under this section shall not constitute disciplinary action. (d) This section shall have no effect on the Board of Registered Nursing pursuant to Article 3.1 (commencing with Section 2770) of Chapter 6 of Division 2.
315.4. (a) A board, as described in Section 315, may adopt regulations authorizing the board to order a licensee on probation or in a diversion program to cease practice for major violations and when the board orders a licensee to undergo a clinical diagnostic evaluation pursuant to the uniform and specific standards adopted and authorized under Section 315. (b) An order to cease practice under this section shall not be governed by the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (c) A cease practice order under this section shall not constitute disciplinary action. (d) This section shall have no effect on the Board of Registered Nursing pursuant to Article 3.1 (commencing with Section 2770) of Chapter 6 of Division 2.
Article 4. Representation Of Consumers
Ca Codes (bpc:320-321) Business And Professions Code
Section 320-321
320. Whenever there is pending before any state commission, regulatory agency, department, or other state agency, or any state or federal court or agency, any matter or proceeding which the director finds may affect substantially the interests of consumers within California, the director, or the Attorney General, may intervene in such matter or proceeding in any appropriate manner to represent the interests of consumers. The director, or any officer or employee designated by the director for that purpose, or the Attorney General, may thereafter present to such agency, court, or department, in conformity with the rules of practice and procedure thereof, such evidence and argument as he shall determine to be necessary, for the effective protection of the interests of consumers.
321. Whenever it appears to the director that the interests of the consumers of this state are being damaged, or may be damaged, by any person who engaged in, or intends to engage in, any acts or practices in violation of any law of this state, or any federal law, the director or any officer or employee designated by the director, or the Attorney General, may commence legal proceedings in the appropriate forum to enjoin such acts or practices and may seek other appropriate relief on behalf of such consumers.
Article 5. Consumer Complaints
Ca Codes (bpc:325-326) Business And Professions Code
Section 325-326
325. It shall be the duty of the director to receive complaints from consumers concerning (a) unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by any person in the conduct of any trade or commerce; (b) the production, distribution, sale, and lease of any goods and services undertaken by any person which may endanger the public health, safety, or welfare; (c) violations of provisions of this code relating to businesses and professions licensed by any agency of the department, and regulations promulagated pursuant thereto; and (d) other matters consistent with the purposes of this chapter, whenever appropriate.
325.3. In addition to the duties prescribed by Section 325, it shall be the duty of the director to receive complaints from consumers concerning services provided by the entities described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code.
326. (a) Upon receipt of any complaint pursuant to Section 325, the director may notify the person against whom the complaint is made of the nature of the complaint and may request appropriate relief for the consumer. (b) The director shall also transmit any valid complaint to the local, state or federal agency whose authority provides the most effective means to secure the relief. The director shall, if appropriate, advise the consumer of the action taken on the complaint and of any other means which may be available to the consumer to secure relief. (c) If the director receives a complaint or receives information from any source indicating a probable violation of any law, rule, or order of any regulatory agency of the state, or if a pattern of complaints from consumers develops, the director shall transmit any complaint he or she considers to be valid to any appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agency and any evidence or information he or she may have concerning the probable violation or pattern of complaints or request the Attorney General to undertake appropriate legal action. It shall be the continuing duty of the director to discern patterns of complaints and to ascertain the nature and extent of action taken with respect to the probable violations or pattern of complaints.
Ca Codes (bpc:337) Business And Professions Code
337. (a) The department shall prepare and disseminate an informational brochure for victims of psychotherapist-patient sexual contact and advocates for those victims. This brochure shall be developed by the department in consultation with members of the Sexual Assault Program of the Office of Criminal Justice Planning and the office of the Attorney General. (b) The brochure shall include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) A legal and an informal definition of psychotherapist-patient sexual contact. (2) A brief description of common personal reactions and histories of victims and victim's families. (3) A patient's bill of rights. (4) Options for reporting psychotherapist-patient sexual relations and instructions for each reporting option. (5) A full description of administrative, civil, and professional associations complaint procedures. (6) A description of services available for support of victims. (c) The brochure shall be provided to each individual contacting the Medical Board of California and affiliated health boards or the Board of Behavioral Sciences regarding a complaint involving psychotherapist-patient sexual relations.
Article 7. Personal Information And Privacy Protection
Chapter 5. Buildings Of The Department
Ca Codes (bpc:400-405) Business And Professions Code
Section 400-405
400. The Department of Consumer Affairs may, with the approval of the Department of General Services, purchase or otherwise acquire real property and may construct and equip buildings and make improvements thereon for its use and the use of the boards and commissions comprising the department or subject to its jurisdiction and for the use of other departments, boards and agencies of the state, irrespective of the funds from which appropriations are made for their support.
401. When there is money in the fund of any board or commission comprising the Department of Consumer Affairs or subject to its jurisdiction, which money, the Director of Consumer Affairs finds, is not required to meet any demand which has accrued or may accrue against the fund, the Controller, upon executive order of the Director of Finance, shall transfer the sum designated by the Director of Consumer Affairs from the fund of the board or commission to the Consumer Affairs Fund to be used for the purposes of this chapter. No money may be taken from the fund of any board or commission when it will interfere with the administrative duties imposed upon the board or commission. The unencumbered, unexpended money in the fund of any board in division number one of the department shall never be reduced to less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) by any transfer ordered by the Director of Consumer Affairs under this chapter.
402. The Department of Finance, from funds at its disposal for office and housing facilities for any other department, board, or agency, and any other department, board or agency, supported in whole or in part from the General Fund or special funds, may transfer in the manner authorized by law any money appropriated or made available for their use or investment to the Consumer Affairs Fund for expenditure by the Department of Consumer Affairs for the purposes of this chapter.
403. Any building constructed by the Department of Consumer Affairs under this chapter shall be subject to the supervision of the Department of Consumer Affairs in accordance with rules and regulations established by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of General Services. The Department of Consumer Affairs may, with the approval of the Department of General Services, rent the space therein to any other department and to any board or agency for such rentals and upon such terms and conditions as the Department of Consumer Affairs deems fit. The costs of operation, maintenance, repairs, and other reasonable and necessary expenses shall be paid from rentals. Thereafter, from such net rentals there shall be returned to the General Fund of the state and to such other funds from which contributions were made to the cost of the facilities, amounts commensurate with the financial requirements of the various funds from which contributions were made; the returnable amounts to be determined by the Department of Consumer Affairs, with the approval of the Department of General Services, and not to exceed the amount of the original contributions from the respective funds; provided, however, that interest may be paid on the contributions in the manner and amount determined by the Department of Consumer Affairs with the approval of the Director of General Services.
404. The Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of General Services may establish rules and regulations for the administration of any building constructed under this chapter.
405. Rentals received under Section 403 shall be deposited in and disbursed pursuant to that section from the Consumer Affairs Fund.
Ca Codes (bpc:450-453) Business And Professions Code
Section 450-453
450. In addition to the qualifications provided in the respective chapters of this code, a public member or a lay member of any board shall not be, nor shall he have been within the period of five years immediately preceding his appointment, any of the following: (a) An employer, or an officer, director, or substantially full-time representative of an employer or group of employers, of any licentiate of such board, except that this shall not preclude the appointment of a person which maintains infrequent employer status with such licentiate, or maintains a client, patient, or customer relationship with any such licentiate which does not constitute more than 2 percent of the practice or business of the licentiate. (b) A person maintaining a contractual relationship with a licentiate of such board, which would constitute more than 2 percent of the practice or business of any such licentiate, or an officer, director, or substantially full-time representative of such person or group of persons. (c) An employee of any licentiate of such board, or a representative of such employee, except that this shall not preclude the appointment of a person who maintains an infrequent employee relationship or a person rendering professional or related services to a licentiate if such employment or service does not constitute more than 2 percent of the employment or practice of the member of the board.
450.2. In order to avoid a potential for a conflict of interest, a public member of a board shall not: (a) Be a current or past licensee of that board. (b) Be a close family member of a licensee of that board.
450.3. No public member shall either at the time of his appointment or during his tenure in office have any financial interest in any organization subject to regulation by the board, commission or committee of which he is a member.
450.6. Notwithstanding any other section of law, a public member may be appointed without regard to age so long as the public member has reached the age of majority prior to appointment.
451. If any board shall as a part of its functions delegate any duty or responsibility to be performed by a single member of such board, such delegation shall not be made solely to any public member or any lay member of the board in any of the following instances: (a) The actual preparation of, the administration of, and the grading of, examinations. (b) The inspection or investigation of licentiates, the manner or method of practice or doing business, or their place of practice or business. Nothing in this section shall be construed as precluding a public member or a lay member from participating in the formation of policy relating to the scope of the activities set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) or in the approval, disapproval or modification of the action of its individual members, nor preclude such member from participating as a member of a subcommittee consisting of more than one member of the board in the performance of any duty.
452. "Board," as used in this chapter, includes a board, advisory board, commission, examining committee, committee or other similarly constituted body exercising powers under this code.
453. Every newly appointed board member shall, within one year of assuming office, complete a training and orientation program offered by the department regarding, among other things, his or her functions, responsibilities, and obligations as a member of a board. The department shall adopt regulations necessary to establish this training and orientation program and its content.
Ca Codes (bpc:460-462) Business And Professions Code
Section 460-462
460. (a) No city or county shall prohibit a person or group of persons, authorized by one of the agencies in the Department of Consumer Affairs by a license, certificate, or other such means to engage in a particular business, from engaging in that business, occupation, or profession or any portion thereof. (b) No city, county, or city and county shall prohibit a healing arts professional licensed with the state under Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) from engaging in any act or performing any procedure that falls within the professionally recognized scope of practice of that licensee. (1) This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit the enforcement of a local ordinance in effect prior to January 1, 2010, related to any act or procedure that falls within the professionally recognized scope of practice of a healing arts professional licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 500). (2) This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent a city, county, or city and county from adopting or enforcing any local ordinance governing zoning, business licensing, or reasonable health and safety requirements for establishments or businesses of a healing arts professional licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 500). (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any city, county, or city and county from levying a business license tax solely for revenue purposes, nor any city or county from levying a license tax solely for the purpose of covering the cost of regulation.
461. No public agency, state or local, shall, on an initial application form for any license, certificate or registration, ask for or require the applicant to reveal a record of arrest that did not result in a conviction or a plea of nolo contendere. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor. This section shall apply in the case of any license, certificate or registration provided for by any law of this state or local government, including, but not limited to, this code, the Corporations Code, the Education Code, and the Insurance Code.
462. (a) Any of the boards, bureaus, commissions, or programs within the department may establish, by regulation, a system for an inactive category of licensure for persons who are not actively engaged in the practice of their profession or vocation. (b) The regulation shall contain the following provisions: (1) The holder of an inactive license issued pursuant to this section shall not engage in any activity for which a license is required. (2) An inactive license issued pursuant to this section shall be renewed during the same time period in which an active license is renewed. The holder of an inactive license need not comply with any continuing education requirement for renewal of an active license. (3) The renewal fee for a license in an active status shall apply also for a renewal of a license in an inactive status, unless a lesser renewal fee is specified by the board. (4) In order for the holder of an inactive license issued pursuant to this section to restore his or her license to an active status, the holder of an inactive license shall comply with all the following: (A) Pay the renewal fee. (B) If the board requires completion of continuing education for renewal of an active license, complete continuing education equivalent to that required for renewal of an active license, unless a different requirement is specified by the board. (c) This section shall not apply to any healing arts board as specified in Section 701.
Ca Codes (bpc:465-465.5) Business And Professions Code
Section 465-465.5
465. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) The resolution of many disputes can be unnecessarily costly, time-consuming, and complex when achieved through formal court proceedings where the parties are adversaries and are subjected to formalized procedures. (b) To achieve more effective and efficient dispute resolution in a complex society, greater use of alternatives to the courts, such as mediation, conciliation, and arbitration should be encouraged. Community dispute resolution programs and increased use of other alternatives to the formal judicial system may offer less threatening and more flexible forums for persons of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. These alternatives, among other things, can assist in the resolution of disputes between neighbors, some domestic disputes, consumer-merchant disputes, and other kinds of disputes in which the parties have continuing relationships. A noncoercive dispute resolution forum in the community may also provide a valuable prevention and early intervention problem-solving resource to the community. (c) Local resources, including volunteers reflective of the diversity of the community and available public buildings should be utilized to achieve more accessible, cost-effective resolutions of disputes. Additional financial resources are needed to expand, stabilize, and improve existing programs and entities which sponsor alternative dispute resolution. (d) Courts, prosecuting authorities, law enforcement agencies, and administrative agencies should encourage greater use of alternative dispute resolution techniques whenever the administration of justice will be improved. (e) Counties should consider increasing the use of alternative dispute resolution in their operations as plans for court reform are developed and implemented. (f) The Judicial Council should consider, in redrafting or updating any of the official pleading forms used in the trial courts of this state, the inclusion of information on options for alternative dispute resolution.
465.5. It is the intent of the Legislature to permit counties to accomplish all of the following: (a) Encouragement and support of the development and use of alternative dispute resolution techniques. (b) Encouragement and support of community participation in the development, administration, and oversight of local programs designed to facilitate the informal resolution of disputes among members of the community. (c) Development of structures for dispute resolution that may serve as models for resolution programs in other communities. (d) Education of communities with regard to the availability and benefits of alternative dispute resolution techniques. (e) Encouragement of courts, prosecuting authorities, public defenders, law enforcement agencies, and administrative agencies to work in cooperation with, and to make referrals to, dispute resolution programs. At the time that the state assumes the responsibility for the funding of California trial courts, consideration shall be given to the Dispute Resolution Advisory Council's evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution programs and the feasibility of the operation of a statewide program of grants, with the intention of funding alternative dispute resolution programs on a statewide basis.
Ca Codes (bpc:466) Business And Professions Code
466. As used in this chapter: (a) "Dispute resolution" includes, but is not limited to, mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. (b) "Program" means an entity that provides dispute resolution. (c) "Advisory Council" means the Dispute Resolution Advisory Council.
Ca Codes (bpc:467-467.7) Business And Professions Code
Section 467-467.7
467. (a) There is in the Division of Consumer Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs a Dispute Resolution Advisory Council. The advisory council shall complete the duties required by this chapter no later than January 1, 1989. (b) The advisory council shall consist of seven persons, five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. At least four of the persons appointed to the advisory council shall be active members of the State Bar of California, and at least four persons appointed to the advisory council shall have a minimum of two years of direct experience in utilizing dispute resolution techniques. The members of the advisory council shall reflect the racial, ethnic, sexual, and geographic diversity of the State of California. (c) The members of the advisory council shall not receive a salary for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
467.1. (a) A program funded pursuant to this chapter shall be operated pursuant to contract with the county and shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter and the rules and regulations of the advisory council. (b) Counties may establish a program of grants to public entities and nonpartisan nonprofit corporations for the establishment and continuance of programs to be operated under the requirements of this chapter and the standards developed by the advisory council. The board of supervisors of a county in which, because of the county's size, the distribution authorized by Section 470.5 is insufficient to establish a county program may enter into an agreement with the board of supervisors of one or more other such counties to establish a program authorized by this chapter on a regional basis.
467.2. A program shall not be eligible for funding under this chapter unless it meets all of the following requirements: (a) Compliance with this chapter and the applicable rules and regulations of the advisory council. (b) Provision of neutral persons adequately trained in conflict resolution techniques as required by the rules and regulations promulgated by the advisory council pursuant to Section 471. (c) Provision of dispute resolution, on a sliding scale basis, and without cost to indigents. (d) Provision that, upon consent of the parties, a written agreement or an award resolving a dispute will be issued setting out a settlement of the issues involved in the dispute and the future responsibilities of each party. (e) Provision of neutral procedures applicable equally to all participants without any special benefit or consideration given to persons or entities providing funding for the programs. (f) Provision that participation in the program is voluntary and that the parties are not coerced to enter dispute resolution. (g) Provision of alternative dispute resolution is the primary purpose of the program. (h) Programs operated by counties that receive funding under this chapter shall be operated primarily for the purposes of dispute resolution, consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
467.3. Programs funded pursuant to this chapter shall provide persons indicating an intention to utilize the dispute resolution process with a written statement prior to the dispute resolution proceeding, in language easy to read and understand, stating all of the following: (a) The nature of the dispute. (b) The nature of the dispute resolution process. (c) The rights and obligations of the parties, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (1) The right to call and examine witnesses. (2) The right of the parties to be accompanied by counsel, who may participate as permitted under the rules and procedures of the program. (d) The procedures under which the dispute resolution will be conducted. (e) If the parties enter into arbitration, whether the dispute resolution process will be binding.
467.4. (a) An agreement resolving a dispute entered into with the assistance of a program shall not be enforceable in a court nor shall it be admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding, unless the consent of the parties or the agreement includes a provision that clearly states the intention of the parties that the agreement or any resulting award shall be so enforceable or admissible as evidence. (b) The parties may agree in writing to toll the applicable statute of limitations during the pendency of the dispute resolution process.
467.5. Notwithstanding the express application of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1115) of Division 9 of the Evidence Code to mediations, all proceedings conducted by a program funded pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, arbitrations and conciliations, are subject to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1115) of Division 9 of the Evidence Code.
467.6. Each program shall maintain those statistical records required by Section 471.5, and as may be required by the county. The records shall maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of the parties.
467.7. (a) Unless the parties have agreed to a binding award, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person who voluntarily enters the dispute resolution process from revoking his or her consent, withdrawing from dispute resolution, and seeking judicial or administrative redress. (b) In cases in which a criminal complaint has been filed by a prosecutor, other than for an infraction, the advice of counsel shall be obtained before any dispute resolution process is initiated. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to preclude a defendant from knowingly and voluntarily waiving the right to counsel. A defendant who indicates a desire to waive the right to counsel shall be encouraged to consult with the public defender or private counsel before waiving that right.
Ca Codes (bpc:468-468.3) Business And Professions Code
Section 468-468.3
468. All funds available to a county for the purposes of this chapter shall be utilized for projects proposed by eligible programs.
468.1. Programs shall be selected for funding by a county from the applications submitted therefor.
468.2. Applications submitted for funding shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following information: (a) Evidence of compliance with Sections 467.2, 467.3, and 467.4. (b) A description of the proposed community area of service, cost of the principal components of operation, and any other characteristics, as determined by rules of the advisory council. (c) A description of available dispute resolution services and facilities within the defined geographical area. (d) A description of the applicant's proposed program, by type and purpose, including evidence of community support, the present availability of resources, and the applicant's administrative capability. (e) A description of existing or planned cooperation between the applicant and local human service and justice system agencies. (f) A demonstrated effort on the part of the applicant to show the manner in which funds that may be awarded under this program may be coordinated or consolidated with other local, state, or federal funds available for the activities described in Sections 467.2, 467.3, and 467.4. (g) An explanation of the methods to be used for selecting and training mediators and other facilitators used in the dispute resolution process. (h) Such additional information as may be required by the county.
468.3. Data supplied by each applicant shall be used to assign relative funding priority on the basis of criteria developed by the advisory council. The criteria may include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following, in addition to the criteria set forth in Section 468.2: (a) Unit cost, according to the type and scope of the proposed program. (b) Quality and validity of the program. (c) Number of participants who may be served. (d) Administrative capability. (e) Community support factors.
Ca Codes (bpc:469) Business And Professions Code
469. Upon the approval of the county, funds available for the purposes of this chapter shall be used for the costs of operation of approved programs. Not more than 10 percent of funds available for the purposes of this chapter shall be used to finance the administration of the program by a county with a population of 500,000 or more persons, and no more than 20 percent may be so used if its population is less than that amount. All moneys allocated for the purposes of this chapter shall be apportioned and distributed to programs in the county, taking into account the relative population and needs of a community as well as the availability of existing dispute resolution facilities offering alternatives to the formal judicial system. If any program receives funding from any other county fee enhancements collected for the purpose of funding alternative dispute resolution services, the county shall consider that fact in determining the appropriate level of funding for a particular program. The methods of payment or reimbursement for dispute resolution costs shall be specified by the county and may vary among programs. All such arrangements shall conform to the regulations of the advisory council.
Ca Codes (bpc:470-470.6) Business And Professions Code
Section 470-470.6
470. A county may accept and disburse funds from any public or private source for the purposes of this chapter.
470.1. (a) A grant recipient may accept funds from any public or private source for the purposes of this chapter. (b) A county and its representatives may inspect, examine, and audit the fiscal affairs of the programs and the projects funded under this chapter. (c) Programs shall, whenever reasonably possible, make use of public facilities at free or nominal costs.
470.2. A county's share of the funding pursuant to this chapter shall not exceed 50 percent of the approved estimated cost of the program.
470.5. (a) On and after January 1, 2006, as described in Section 68085.1 of the Government Code, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall make monthly distributions from superior court filing fees for the support of dispute resolution programs under this chapter in each county that has acted to establish a program. The amount distributed in each county shall be equal to the following: (1) From each first paper filing fee collected by the court as provided under Section 70611 or 70612, subdivision (a) of Section 70613, subdivision (a) of Section 70614, or Section 70670 of the Government Code, and each first paper or petition filing fee collected by the court in a probate matter as provided under Section 70650, 70651, 70652, 70653, or 70655 of the Government Code, the same amount as was required to be collected for the support of dispute resolution programs in that county as of December 31, 2005, when a fee was collected for the filing of a first paper in a civil action under Section 26820.4 of the Government Code. (2) From each first paper filing fee in a limited civil case collected by the court as provided under subdivision (b) of Section 70613 or subdivision (b) of Section 70614 of the Government Code, and each first paper or petition filing fee collected by the court in a probate matter as provided under Section 70654, 70656, or 70658 of the Government Code, the same amount as was required to be collected for the support of dispute resolution programs in that county as of December 31, 2005, when a fee was collected for the filing of a first paper in a civil action under Section 72055 of the Government Code where the amount demanded, excluding attorney's fees and costs, was ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or less. (b) Distributions under this section shall be used only for the support of dispute resolution programs authorized by this chapter. The county shall deposit the amounts distributed under this section in an account created and maintained for this purpose by the county. Records of these distributions shall be available for inspection by the public upon request. (c) After January 1, 2006, a county that does not already have a distribution from superior court filing fees under this section and that establishes a dispute resolution program authorized by this chapter may approve a distribution under this section. A county that already has a distribution under this section may change the amount of the distribution. The total amount to be distributed for the support of dispute resolution programs under this section may not exceed eight dollars ($8) per filing fee. (d) The county may make changes under subdivision (c) to be effective January 1 or July 1 of any year, on and after January 1, 2006. The county shall provide the Administrative Office of the Courts with a copy of the action of the board of supervisors that establishes the change at least 15 days before the date that the change goes into effect.
470.6. A county may carry over moneys received from distributions under Section 470.5 and from the fees for the support of dispute resolution programs authorized by this chapter that were added to fees for filing a first paper in a civil action in superior court under the laws in effect before January 1, 2006.
Ca Codes (bpc:471-471.5) Business And Professions Code
Section 471-471.5
471. (a) The advisory council shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, guidelines to be used by the programs for the recruitment and training of persons conducting dispute resolution, and provisions for periodic monitoring and evaluation of the programs funded pursuant to this chapter. The advisory council shall establish guidelines to evaluate the performance of participating programs, which shall include analysis of court caseload reduction, cost savings to the state, the efficacy of the programs, and the feasibility of operation of a statewide program of grants at the time the state assumes the responsibility for the funding of trial courts. (b) The advisory council shall adopt temporary guidelines within six months of its initial meeting. The adoption of these temporary guidelines shall not be subject to the procedures specified in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Upon the adoption of the temporary guidelines, counties may award grants pursuant to this chapter. Programs funded pursuant to this chapter shall comply with the temporary guidelines, the requirements of this chapter and, when adopted, the formal rules and regulations. (c) Formal rules and regulations implementing this chapter shall be adopted pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code and, upon adoption, shall supersede the temporary guidelines adopted pursuant to subdivision (b). (d) On and after January 1, 1989, or such earlier date as the advisory council completes its duties pursuant to this chapter, the Division of Consumer Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs shall periodically review the effectiveness of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter and adopt changes thereto as necessary. It also shall monitor and evaluate the programs funded pursuant to this chapter as to their compliance with those rules and regulations. (e) The Director of Consumer Affairs shall administer and enforce this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, and in so doing may exercise any power conferred under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 300).
471.3. The rules and regulations adopted by the advisory council pursuant to Section 471 shall be formulated to promote statewide uniformity with the guidelines contained in those rules and regulations.
471.5. Each program funded pursuant to this chapter shall annually provide the county with statistical data regarding its operating budget; the number of referrals, categories, or types of cases referred to the program; the number of persons served by the program; the number of disputes resolved; the nature of the disputes resolved; rates of compliance; the number of persons utilizing the process more than once; the duration of and the estimated costs of the hearings conducted by the programs; and any other information that the county may require. The data shall maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of the persons employing the dispute resolution process.
Ca Codes (bpc:472-472.5) Business And Professions Code
Section 472-472.5
472. Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions govern the construction of this chapter: (a) "New motor vehicle" means a new motor vehicle as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code. (b) "Manufacturer" means a new motor vehicle manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch required to be licensed pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 11700) of Chapter 4 of Division 5 of the Vehicle Code. (c) "Qualified third party dispute resolution process" means a third party dispute resolution process which operates in compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter and which has been certified by the department pursuant to this chapter.
472.1. The department shall establish a program for certifying each third-party dispute resolution process used for the arbitration of disputes pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code. In establishing the program, the department shall do all of the following: (a) Prescribe and provide forms to be used to apply for certification under this chapter. (b) Establish a set of minimum standards which shall be used to determine whether a third-party dispute resolution process is in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter. (c) Prescribe the information which each manufacturer, or other entity, that operates a third-party dispute resolution process shall provide the department in the application for certification. In prescribing the information to accompany the application for certification, the department shall require the manufacturer, or other entity, to provide only that information which the department finds is reasonably necessary to enable the department to determine whether the third-party dispute resolution process is in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter. (d) Prescribe the information that each qualified third-party dispute resolution process shall provide the department, and the time intervals at which the information shall be required, to enable the department to determine whether the qualified third-party dispute resolution process continues to operate in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter.
472.2. (a) Each manufacturer may establish, or otherwise make available to buyers or lessees of new motor vehicles, a qualified third-party dispute resolution process for the resolution of disputes pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code. A manufacturer that itself operates the third-party dispute resolution process shall apply to the department for certification of that process. If the manufacturer makes the third-party dispute resolution process available to buyers or lessees of new motor vehicles through contract or other arrangement with another entity, that entity shall apply to the department for certification. An entity that operates a third-party dispute resolution process for more than one manufacturer shall make a separate application for certification for each manufacturer that uses that entity's third-party dispute resolution process. The application for certification shall be accompanied by the information prescribed by the department. (b) The department shall review the application and accompanying information and, after conducting an onsite inspection, shall determine whether the third-party dispute resolution process is in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter. If the department determines that the process is in substantial compliance, the department shall certify the process. If the department determines that the process is not in substantial compliance, the department shall deny certification and shall state, in writing, the reasons for denial and the modifications in the operation of the process that are required in order for the process to be certified. (c) The department shall make a final determination whether to certify a third-party dispute resolution process or to deny certification not later than 90 calendar days following the date the department accepts the application for certification as complete.
472.3. (a) The department, in accordance with the time intervals prescribed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 472.1, but at least once annually, shall review the operation and performance of each qualified third-party dispute resolution process and determine, using the information provided the department as prescribed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 472.1 and the monitoring and inspection information described in subdivision (c) of Section 472.4, whether the process is operating in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter. If the department determines that the process is in substantial compliance, the certification shall remain in effect. (b) If the department determines that the process is not in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code or this chapter, the department shall issue a notice of decertification to the entity which operates the process and shall send a copy of that notice to any manufacturer affected by the decertification. The notice of decertification shall state the reasons for the issuance of the notice and prescribe the modifications in the operation of the process that are required in order for the process to retain its certification. (c) A notice of decertification shall take effect 180 calendar days following the date the notice is served on the manufacturer, or other entity, which uses the process that the department has determined is not in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code or this chapter. The department shall withdraw the notice of decertification prior to its effective date if the department determines, after a public hearing, that the manufacturer, or other entity, which uses the process has made the modifications in the operation of the process required in the notice of decertification and is in substantial compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code and this chapter.
472.4. In addition to any other requirements of this chapter, the department shall do all of the following: (a) Establish procedures to assist owners or lessees of new motor vehicles who have complaints regarding the operation of a qualified third-party dispute resolution process. (b) Establish methods for measuring customer satisfaction and to identify violations of this chapter, which shall include an annual random postcard or telephone survey by the department of the customers of each qualified third-party dispute resolution process. (c) Monitor and inspect, on a regular basis, qualified third-party dispute resolution processes to determine whether they continue to meet the standards for certification. Monitoring and inspection shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) Onsite inspections of each qualified third-party dispute resolution process not less frequently than twice annually. (2) Investigation of complaints from consumers regarding the operation of qualified third-party dispute resolution processes and analyses of representative samples of complaints against each process. (3) Analyses of the annual surveys required by subdivision (b). (d) Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of the failure of a manufacturer to honor a decision of a qualified third-party dispute resolution process to enable the Department of Motor Vehicles to take appropriate enforcement action against the manufacturer pursuant to Section 11705.4 of the Vehicle Code. (e) Submit a biennial report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of this chapter, make available to the public summaries of the statistics and other information supplied by each qualified third-party dispute resolution process, and publish educational materials regarding the purposes of this chapter. (f) Adopt regulations as necessary and appropriate to implement this chapter and subdivision (d) of Section 1793.22 of the Civil Code. (g) Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the department in exercising its certification, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.
472.5. The New Motor Vehicle Board in the Department of Motor Vehicles shall, in accordance with the procedures prescribed in this section, administer the collection of fees for the purposes of fully funding the administration of this chapter. (a) Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Certification Account in the Consumer Affairs Fund and shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, exclusively to pay the expenses incurred by the department in administering this chapter and to pay the New Motor Vehicle Board as provided in Section 3016 of the Vehicle Code. If, at the conclusion of any fiscal year, the amount of fees collected exceeds the amount of expenditures for that purpose during that fiscal year, the surplus in the Certification Account shall be carried over into the succeeding fiscal year. (b) Beginning July 1, 1988, and on or before May 1 of each calendar year thereafter, every manufacturer shall file with the New Motor Vehicle Board a statement of the number of motor vehicles sold, leased, or otherwise distributed by or for the manufacturer in this state during the preceding calendar year, and shall, upon written notice delivered to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, pay to the New Motor Vehicle Board a fee, not to exceed one dollar ($1) for each motor vehicle sold, leased, or distributed by or for the manufacturer in this state during the preceding calendar year. The total fee paid by each manufacturer shall be rounded to the nearest dollar in the manner described in Section 9559 of the Vehicle Code. Not more than one dollar ($1) shall be charged, collected, or received from any one or more manufacturers pursuant to this subdivision with respect to the same motor vehicle. (c) (1) The fee required by subdivision (b) is due and payable not later than 30 days after the manufacturer has received notice of the amount due and is delinquent after that time. A penalty of 10 percent of the amount delinquent shall be added to that amount, if the delinquency continues for more than 30 days. (2) If a manufacturer fails to file the statement required by subdivision (b) by the date specified, the New Motor Vehicle Board shall assess the amount due from the manufacturer by using as the number of motor vehicles sold, leased, or otherwise distributed by or for the manufacturer in this state during the preceding calendar year the total number of new registrations of all motor vehicles sold, leased, or otherwise distributed by or for the manufacturer during the preceding calendar year. (d) On or before February 1 of each year, the department shall notify the New Motor Vehicle Board of the dollar amount necessary to fully fund the program established by this chapter during the following fiscal year. The New Motor Vehicle Board shall use this information in calculating the amounts of the fees to be collected from manufacturers pursuant to this section. (e) For purposes of this section, "motor vehicle" means a new passenger or commercial motor vehicle of a kind that is required to be registered under the Vehicle Code, but the term does not include a motorcycle, a motor home, or any vehicle whose gross weight exceeds 10,000 pounds. (f) The New Motor Vehicle Board may adopt regulations to implement this section. The regulations shall include, at a minimum, a formula for calculating the fee, established pursuant to subdivision (b), for each motor vehicle and the total amount of fees to be collected from each manufacturer. (g) Any revenues already received by the Arbitration Certification Program and deposited in the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund for the 1991-92 fiscal year that have not yet been spent shall be deposited into the Certification Account in the Consumer Affairs Fund.
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