Professions and vocations: applicants licensed in other states: reciprocity.

Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs, which is composed of boards that license and regulate various professions and vocations to ensure that certain businesses and professions that have potential impact upon the public health, safety, and welfare are adequately regulated. Existing law makes a violation of some of those licensure provisions a crime. Existing law authorizes certain boards, for purposes of reciprocity, to waive examination or other requirements and issue a license to an applicant who holds a valid license in another state and meets specified other requirements, including, among others, a license to practice veterinary medicine. This bill, with exceptions, would require each board within the department to issue a license to an applicant in the discipline for which the applicant applies if the person meets certain requirements, including, but not limited to, that the person is married to, or is in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who is assigned to a duty station in this state, the person currently holds a license in good standing in another state in the discipline and practice level and with the same scope of practice for which the person applies, the person has held the license and has practiced in the licensed field in another state or jurisdiction for at least 3 of the last 5 years, and the person pays all applicable fees and complies with any applicable surety bond and insurance requirements. By expanding the applicants who are authorized to be licensed and who may be prosecuted for a violation of those licensure provisions constituting a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated program. 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.