Professions and vocations.

(1) Existing law requires that certain actions take place with regard to the Cemetery Board and Funeral Directors and Embalmers Board and the Structural Pest Control Board by January 1, 1996. This bill would delete those provisions. (2) Existing law, between July 1, 2013, and January 1, 2019, authorizes an individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who has a valid and current license, certificate, or permit to practice public accountancy from another state to engage in the practice of public accountancy in this state under a practice privilege without obtaining a certificate or license, if certain conditions are met. This bill would add the condition that the individual is required to notify the Board of Accountancy of any pending criminal charges in any jurisdiction, other than for a minor traffic violation. Existing law, between July 1, 2013, and January 1, 2019, authorizes a certified public accounting firm that is authorized to practice in another state and that does not have an office in this state to engage in the practice of public accountancy in this state through the holder of a practice privilege, and the board is authorized to revoke, suspend, issue a fine, as provided, or otherwise restrict or discipline the firm for any act that would be grounds for discipline against a holder of a practice privilege through which the firm practices. This bill would also authorize the board to issue a citation and fine, as provided, under the general powers given to the board as a part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. (3) Existing law, the Contractors' State License Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors in this state. Existing law defines the term "contractor" to mean, among other things, any person, consultant to an owner-builder, corporation, or company who or which undertakes, offers to undertake, purports to have the capacity to undertake, or submits a bid to construct any building or home improvement project, or a part thereof. Under existing law, a contractor's license that has expired may be renewed at any time within 5 years after its expiration by filing an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the registrar of contractors, and payment of the appropriate renewal fee. If the license is renewed after the expiration date, existing law requires the licensee to also pay a delinquency fee. The registrar of contractors is required to conduct a comprehensive field investigation of no less than 3% of applications for an additional classification on a contractor's license based upon experience and without further examination to ensure that the applicants met the experience requirements and to make public, at quarterly meetings of the Contractors' State License Board, a listing of all additional classification applications approved during the previous 12 months, including, but not limited to, the name of the applicant, license number, classification applied for, and existing classifications. This bill would provide that the term "contractor" or "consultant" does not apply to a common interest development manager, and a common interest development manager is not required to have a contractor's license when performing management services, as defined. The bill would provide an exception to the requirement to pay the delinquency fee where an incomplete renewal application, that had originally been submitted on or before the license expiration date, was returned to the licensee by the registrar with an explanation of the reasons for its rejection and a corrected and acceptable renewal application is returned by the licensee within 30 days after the license expiration date. The bill would also require that the license reflect an expired status for any period between the expiration date and the date of submission of a correct and acceptable renewal application. The bill would delete the requirement that the registrar's investigation be a field investigation, and would delete the requirement that the registrar make public, at quarterly meetings of the Contractors' State License Board, the listing of all additional classification applications approved during the previous 12 months. (4) Existing law, until January 1, 2014, provides that there is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind that has exclusive authority to issue licenses for the instruction of blind persons in the use of guide dogs, for the training of guide dogs for use by blind persons, to operate schools for the training of guide dogs for the blind, and for the instruction of blind persons in the use of guide dogs. Existing law requires the board to hold regular meetings at least once a year at which an examination of applicants for certificates of registration is to be given. This bill would delete the regular meeting requirement. (5) Existing law, the Geologist and Geophysicist Act, provides for the licensure, regulation, and discipline of professional geologists and geophysicists by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. A violation of the act is a misdemeanor. Existing law creates the Geology and Geophysics Account of the Professional Engineer's and Land Surveyor's Fund, which is a continuously appropriated fund, into which fees prescribed by the act are deposited. This bill would create a new category of licensure, to be known as a "retired license," for a geologist or geophysicist who meets specified qualifications and would prescribe fees necessary to obtain a retired license, as well as restrictions on holders of the license. The bill would also specify the title that the holder of a retired license is authorized to use. Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Because the bill would increase moneys deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. (6) Existing law requires any person who regularly transacts business in this state for profit under a fictitious business name to do several things, including, but not limited to, filing a fictitious business name statement not later than 40 days from the time the registrant commences to transact business. Existing law requires the statement to be signed by the husband or wife if the registrants are husband and wife. This bill would instead provide that the statement shall be signed by either party to the marriage if the registrants are a married couple. (7) Existing law authorizes service dealers, licensed by the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation, to install, calibrate, service, maintain, and monitor ignition interlock devices. This bill would limit that authorization to those licensed persons who are authorized to engage in the electronic repair industry, as defined. (8) Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (smog check) program administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs. This bill would correct an erroneous cross-reference with respect to that program. (9) This bill would incorporate changes to Section 7887 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by SB 152 that would become operative if this bill and SB 152 are both chaptered and this bill is chaptered last. (10) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.