Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Real Estate: states of emergency: waivers and exemptions.

Changed 'private debris removal' to 'debris removal' in Section 7058.9, broadening the licensing requirement to cover all debris removal work rather than only private-sector debris removal.

Removed the C-61 Limited Specialty Contractor Classification for Debris Removal and Flood Muck Out, which would have created a new specialized contractor classification with board-adopted regulations defining its scope and requirements.

Simplified the registrar's emergency authorization process in Section 7058.9(b) by removing the provision that allowed the registrar to require the license qualifier to pass a hazardous substance certification examination as a condition of authorization during an emergency.

Extended the Real Estate Commissioner's authority to investigate unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent practices from 90 days after the end of an emergency to one year after the end of the emergency (Section 10089).

Extended the prohibition on unsolicited low-ball offers for property in disaster areas from three months after the declared emergency ends to one year after the emergency ends (Section 10176(n)).

Licensees and applicants are now eligible for licensing waivers if they reside in or have their primary place of business in a location damaged by a natural disaster for which the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency under Government Code Section 8625 or the President has declared an emergency or major disaster. This new category is added throughout the bill (Sections 108.1, 122, 136, 7058.9, 10089, and 10176).

A board must now notify the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs in writing of any waiver it approves. The waiver cannot take effect for 5 business days after the director receives notice. The director may approve or disapprove within that period; if disapproved, the waiver does not take effect. If approved or no action is taken within 5 business days, the waiver takes effect the following day. DCA must post each effective waiver on its website and notify the appropriate legislative committees.

A new waivable requirement is added: extending the time for applicants to complete their applications before the application is considered abandoned. Existing waiver categories are also reworded to be more specific, such as permitting license renewal without completing continuing education and postponing those deadlines to a time after renewal.

The anti-predatory real estate provision (Section 10176(n)) is restructured. The protection period is now explicitly one year following the declaration of a natural disaster, with the commissioner authorized to extend it for one additional year (total of two years) if necessary for consumer protection. A new definition of 'fair market value' is added, referencing Section 1263.320 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and specifies the value as of the calendar day before the emergency or disaster.

The fiscal note changes the state-mandated local program designation from 'yes' to 'no,' meaning the bill no longer triggers a state-mandated local program reimbursement obligation.

The sentence 'The Legislature does not intend for any provision of this bill to require regulations to implement' is removed from Section 1, potentially leaving open the possibility that some provisions could be implemented through regulation.

The formal enrolled bill formatting (page headers, Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk signature blocks, Governor's receipt date line) was replaced with web page navigation elements (menus, search boxes, version history links, share buttons).

Line breaks and spacing within the statutory text were reformatted for web display, but no words or legal provisions were added, removed, or altered.

Added C-12 Earthwork and Paving and C-21 Building Moving/Demolition as additional license classifications that qualify a contractor to perform private debris removal, expanding beyond the original A, B, and C-61 options.

New subdivision (c) in Section 7058.9 requires any licensee authorized to perform debris removal to have passed an approved hazardous substance certification examination and to comply with hazardous waste operations and emergency response requirements under Section 5192 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

Added 'Notwithstanding Section 40520 of the Public Resources Code' to clarify that the new debris removal licensing requirement overrides that existing statute.

Gender-neutral language updates throughout Section 10176, replacing 'his or her' with 'their' and 'he or she' with 'the commissioner.'

The Real Estate Commissioner's period to determine the nature and scope of unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent practices after an emergency is extended from 90 days to one year following the end of the emergency.

The protection period against unsolicited offers to purchase disaster-area property below fair market value is extended from three months after the declared emergency ends to one year.