Existing law regulates sellers of travel, as defined, and requires a seller of travel to annually register with the Attorney General. Existing law establishes the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation to provide restitution to a person aggrieved by the failure of a seller of travel, as specified, and provides for payment of claims from the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund established by the corporation. Existing law requires the corporation to establish and maintain an operations fund for the payment of costs of operations and administration. Existing law requires the corporation to bill and collect from each registered seller of travel an annual assessment not to exceed $35 for the operation fund. This bill would increase the maximum amount of the assessment for the operations fund to $60, then, starting January 1, 2031, to $70. The bill would authorize the corporation to increase the maximum amount once per fiscal year in an amount not to exceed any one-year increase in the California Consumer Price Index for the immediately preceding year. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
(1) Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by specified school districts to provide classroom instruction to pupils, as provided. Existing law makes a district intern credential valid for 2, 3, or 4 years, as provided, and authorizes the commission to grant a one-year extension of that credential upon the recommendation of the school district. Existing law requires the commission to require each applicant for a district intern credential to demonstrate that the applicant meets specified minimum qualifications for that credential. This bill would instead authorize the commission to grant a one-year extension of a district intern credential upon the recommendation of a commission-approved program sponsor. The bill would additionally require the commission to require that an applicant for a district intern credential demonstrate verified employment in a teaching position at a school district, county office of education, or charter school in the state. Existing law requires an internship program to provide interns who meet entrance criteria and are accepted to a multiple subject teaching credential program, a single subject teaching credential program, or certain education specialist credential programs the opportunity to choose an early program completion option, culminating in a 5-year preliminary teaching credential. Existing law requires that this early program completion option be made available to interns who meet specified requirements. This bill would clarify that the early program completion option is for interns who are enrolled in a multiple subject teaching credential program, a single subject teaching credential program, or certain education specialist credential programs. The bill would also limit the availability of the early program completion option to interns seeking their initial preliminary credential who meet those requirements. Existing law prescribes the minimum requirements for a clear multiple or single subject teaching credential, including, among other requirements, possession of a valid preliminary teaching credential and completion of a program of beginning teacher induction. This bill would apply the above-described minimum requirements to the clear education specialist teaching credential. (2) Existing law transfers, effective July 1, 2021, responsibility for certain childcare-related programs, responsibilities, services, and systems from the State Department of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the State Department of Social Services, as provided. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, in cooperation with postsecondary educational institutions, to establish rules and regulations governing specified childcare and development programs established on or near those postsecondary educational institutions, as provided. (3) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district, or 2 or more school districts governed by governing boards of identical personnel, having an average daily attendance of 400,000 or more, as specified, to change or alter a contract for reconstruction or rehabilitation work, without the formality of securing bids, if the cost of the change or alteration does not exceed 25% of the original contract price, the change or alteration is a necessary and integral part of the work under the contract, and the taking of bids would delay contract completion. This bill would extend the authorization to change or alter a contract for reconstruction or rehabilitation work, as described above, to the governing board of any school district, or 2 or more school districts governed by governing boards of identical personnel, having an average daily attendance of 250,000 or more. (4) This bill would also delete obsolete provisions, correct cross-references, and make other nonsubstantive changes. (5) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Sections 44252, 44259, and 44325 of the Education Code proposed by AB 2206 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2206 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
(1) Existing law authorizes a school district, with the approval of the governing board of the school district, to procure design-build contracts for public works projects in excess of $1,000,000, awarding the contract to either the low bid or the best value, as provided. Existing law requires specified information relating to design-build bid proposals to be verified under penalty of perjury. Existing law, until January 1, 2029, authorizes a school district, with the approval of its governing board, to procure alternative design-build contracts for public works projects in excess of $5,000,000, awarding the contract to either the low bid or the best value, as provided. Existing law authorizes county boards of education that have had all or a portion of certain duties and functions relating to expenses transferred to them by the county board of supervisors to acquire, lease, lease-purchase, hold, and convey real property for purposes of housing the offices and the services of the county superintendent of schools. This bill would authorize county superintendents of schools to procure the same above-described design-build and alternative design-build contracts, subject to the same requirements that are applicable to school districts, except that the bill would, notwithstanding any other law, require county superintendents of schools to have exclusive authority to award design-build and alternative design-build contracts on behalf of a county office of education and county board of education. The bill would include findings that these provisions address a matter of statewide concern and, therefore, apply to all counties, including charter counties. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 17250.20 of the Education Code proposed by SB 1107 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1107 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. (3) 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.
Existing law requires every state agency to develop and implement a telecommuting plan as part of its telecommuting program in work areas where telecommuting is identified as being both practical and beneficial to the organization. Existing law requires the Department of General Services to establish a unit for purposes of overseeing telecommuting programs that is required to, among other things, develop and update policy, procedures, and guidelines to assist agencies in the planning and implementation of telecommuting programs. Existing law requires the department to establish criteria for evaluating the state's telecommuting program. Existing law defines "telecommuting" for purposes of those provisions. This bill would revise and recast those provisions. The bill would replace the term "telecommuting" with "telework," as defined. The bill would also require the Department of General Services to establish a telework dashboard that displays the cost-effectiveness and efficiency benefits of state telework programs, including documenting annual savings to the state of reduced office space and operating costs. The bill would additionally require each state agency, every 10 years, to evaluate its telework program to ensure that it aligns with the state agency's unique operational needs to carry out its programmatic missions and to help recruit and retain a qualified workforce. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract that includes terms requiring binding arbitration for dispute settlement to provide a specified disclosure to subscribers or enrollees. Existing law, the California Arbitration Act, provides a statutory framework for the enforcement of contractual arbitration under California law. Existing law establishes standards for arbitration, and requires a court to vacate an arbitration award if it makes certain findings. This bill would require the Attorney General to oversee compliance by health care service plans with specified provisions regulating the use of binding arbitration to settle disputes. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to require reports from health care service plans for this purpose. The bill would also require the Attorney General to notify the director of the department of any corrective action taken pursuant to these provisions.
Existing law authorizes a school district, with the approval of its governing board, to procure design-build contracts for public works projects in excess of $1,000,000, awarding the contract to either the low bid or the best value, as provided. Existing law requires specified information relating to design-build bid proposals to be verified under penalty of perjury. This bill would authorize a school district, on or before December 31, 2031, and with the approval of its governing board, to procure multiple design-build contracts for comparable shade structure projects at various sites, bundled through a single solicitation, if the total value of the projects exceeds $1,000,000 but does not exceed $10,000,000, awarding the bundled contracts to the lowest bid or the best value. The bill would require each contract awarded through the bundled solicitation to be a separate contract for a single project, as provided. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Field Act requires the Department of General Services under the police power of the state to supervise the design and construction of any school building or the reconstruction or alteration of or addition to any school building, if not exempted, to ensure that plans and specifications comply with adopted rules and regulations and building standards published in regulations, and to ensure that the work of construction is performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications for the protection of life and property. The California Building Standards Code requires that specified buildings, structures, and facilities be accessible to, and useable by, persons with disabilities, including that when alterations or additions are made to existing buildings or facilities, an accessible path of travel to the specific area of alteration or addition is provided. Existing law limits the cost of complying with the requirement to provide an accessible path of travel to the installation of a free-standing, open-sided shade structure project that meets specified requirements and that is on a school district, county office of education, charter school, or community college campus to 20% of the adjusted construction cost, as defined, of the shade structure project. This bill would additionally limit the cost of complying with the requirement to provide an accessible path of travel to the installation of a shade structure integrated with playground equipment that meets specified requirements and that is on a school district, county office of education, charter school, or community college campus to 20% of the adjusted construction cost, as defined, of the shade structure project. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 17250.20 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1860 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1860 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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.
Existing law regulates the safety of various consumer products, including, among other things, specific additives in foods, chemicals in products for young children, and lead in tableware. This bill would prohibit a person from selling, offering to sell, or giving away as either a retail or wholesale promotion, and a delivery seller from selling, delivering, or causing to be delivered, an over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building, as defined, to any person in this state under 18 years of age, except as specified, by requiring a specified identification check. The bill would make a person who violates these provisions liable for a civil penalty of no more than $500 for each violation, as specified, and would authorize the Attorney General, a county counsel, or a city attorney to apply to a court for, and would authorize that court to have jurisdiction upon hearing and for cause shown to grant, a temporary or permanent injunction enjoining or restraining any person or entity from violating any of the prohibitions. The bill would make a prevailing plaintiff in an action under these provisions entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
(1) Existing law, until January 1, 2027, provides a comprehensive scheme for the certification and regulation of interior designers. Existing law establishes the California Council for Interior Design Certification (council) , which is a nonprofit organization consisting of certified interior designers, as defined. Under existing law, the council carries out the responsibilities and duties set forth in the aforementioned scheme, including by issuing certifications and stamps certifying specified interior designer standards to qualified individuals. Under existing law, the procedure for stamp issuance is subject to occupational analyses and examination validation every 5 to 7 years. Under existing law, the policy for the validation is developed by the Department of Consumer Affairs. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2031. The bill would provide that protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the council in exercising its certification and disciplinary authority, and any other functions. The bill would also provide that when the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests, the protection of the public is paramount. The bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature in extending the council's powers and duties through the sunset review process that the council continue to serve as an entity entrusted with administering a state function in its certification of interior design professionals. Existing law authorizes the council to issue an interior design certification to any applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that they meet all of specified requirements and who complies with the bylaws, rules, and procedures established by the council, as provided. This bill would require a certified interior designer to report to the council within 30 days of the date the certified interior designer has knowledge of a certain judgment, settlement, or arbitration award of $5,000 or greater against the certified interior designer in an action alleging fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetence, or recklessness by the certified interior designer in the practice of interior design, as specified. The bill would require the certified interior designer to promptly respond to oral or written inquiries from the council concerning the reportable event, as specified, and would make failure of a certified interior designer to comply with these requirements, among other things, grounds for disciplinary action. The bill would also require an insurer providing professional liability insurance to a certified interior designer or a state or local governmental agency that self-insures a certified interior designer to report to the council certain information relating to a payment of a judgment, settlement, or arbitration award described above within 30 days of the payment. The bill would impose the above-described reporting requirements if certain criteria are met, including that a certified interior designer was in responsible control of the portion of the project that was the subject of the civil judgment, settlement, arbitration award, or administrative action. The bill would specify that a certified interior designer is not considered to have violated a confidential settlement agreement or other confidential agreement by providing a report described above. The bill would authorize the council to adopt bylaws, rules, and procedures to further define the reporting requirements. Existing law authorizes the council to take reasonable actions to carry out its responsibilities and duties, as specified. This bill would prohibit the total annual salary for any individual employed or contracted by the council from exceeding the annual salary provided to certain state officers during that fiscal year. Existing law, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a state body be open and public and all persons be permitted to attend any meeting of a state body. The act imposes various requirements on a state body holding a meeting subject to the act, including, among other things, requiring the state body to provide notice of its meeting to any person who requests that notice in writing. Existing law requires meetings of the council issuing stamps to be subject to the rules of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. This bill would, except as otherwise provided in the provision providing a comprehensive scheme for the certification and regulation of interior designers, require meetings of the council to be governed by either Rosenberg's Rules of Order or Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. The bill would require the council to provide a meaningful opportunity for public participation in the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any policies, procedures, rules, or bylaws that substantially impact the rights, benefits, privileges, duties, obligations, or responsibilities of individuals or entities subject to certification or approval by the council, including, among other things, actions by the council to increase fees. In this regard, the bill would require the council, at a minimum, to publish the complete text of any policies, procedures, rules, or bylaws proposed for adoption, amendment, or repeal along with a summary of the changes being considered for a period of at least 45 calendar days before the adoption, amendment, or repeal, and to accept written public comments during the 45-day period and allow further public comment during a meeting held for these purposes. Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires state and local agencies to make their records available for public inspection, unless an exemption from disclosure applies. This bill would require the council, beginning July 1, 2028, and to the extent practicable, to make the records of the council available for public inspection in a manner consistent with the California Public Records Act, as specified, and would authorize the council to charge for the direct costs of responding to requests for records, as specified. (2) Existing law governs works of improvement, including design professionals liens. Existing law defines "design professional" for that purpose to include, among other things, a person licensed as an architect, as specified. This bill would also include a person certified as an interior designer pursuant to the provisions described above as a "design professional."
Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission within the Department of General Services. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code. Existing law requires the commission to publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its entirety once every 3 years. Existing law requires the responsibility for the enforcement and administration of building standards to remain in the state or local agency, as specified. This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would require a controlled environment horticulture space, as defined, that uses single-paned glass windows and either thermal curtains, shade cloths, or equivalent technologies, to be considered compliant under the California Energy Code, provided that the Energy Commission makes a finding that the arrangement is as, or more, energy efficient than current regulations. The bill would require that provision to remain in effect until the next triennial update of the California Building Standards Code. The bill would also require the commission to, commencing with the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code and after development of a standard by the Energy Commission, adopt building standards to allow controlled environmental horticulture spaces or conditioned greenhouses to use alternative technologies, such as thermal curtains, thermal screens, shade cloths, or equivalent technologies, in lieu of the requirements for double-paned glass windows or 2 or more glazings separated by either air or gas glazing. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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.
(1) The Dental Practice Act establishes the Dental Board of California to license and regulate the practice of dentistry. Existing law requires the board to license and regulate dental auxiliaries, including, among others, dental assistants, as defined, and sets forth duties and functions that those dental auxiliaries are authorized to perform. Existing law requires an unlicensed dental assistant not enrolled in a board-approved program for registered dental assisting or an alternative dental assisting program to complete an infection control certification course, as specified. In this regard, existing law allows the unlicensed dental assistant to complete a board-approved 8-hour course, with 6 hours being didactic instruction and 2 hours being laboratory instruction, as specified. This bill would allow an unlicensed dental assistant to complete the Dental Assisting National Board's Infection Control examination instead of completing an infection control course. The bill would also revise the requirements for those infection control courses to allow an unlicensed dental assistant to complete one of specified courses approved by the board or a course with at least 4 hours of didactic instruction and at least 2 hours of laboratory instruction using video or a series of video training tools, as specified. Existing law makes the employer of a dental assistant responsible for ensuring that the dental assistant has successfully completed a board-approved 8-hour course in infection control before performing any basic supportive dental procedures involving potential exposure to blood, saliva, or other potentially infectious material. This bill would instead require the employer to ensure the dental assistant has successfully completed a course or examination in infection control, as described above, before performing those procedures. (2) Existing law establishes the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program under which the Medical Board of California is required to issue a physician and surgeon's license to a licensed physician from Mexico who meets specific education, language, experience, and other requirements. Existing law limits the number of program applicants and the dates they may apply. This bill would make changes to those application deadlines, requiring applicants for the program to submit an application to the board between October 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, and authorizing the board to accept up to 15 applications after July 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2028. (3) The Veterinary Medicine Practice Act establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board to license and regulate veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and the practice of veterinary medicine. Under existing law, the board is composed of 9 members, of which 4 are licensed veterinarians, 2 are registered veterinary technicians, and 3 are public members. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint the 4 veterinarian members, one registered veterinary technician member, and one public member to the board. Under existing law, the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly each appoint a public member. The act also specifies the educational requirements, among other requirements, to become a registered veterinary technician. This bill would require the Governor to appoint the additional registered veterinary technician member to the board and would make nonsubstantive changes to provisions relating to the board. The bill would modify the educational requirements to become a registered veterinary technician to include education accredited by a California public school, as specified. (4) The Private Investigator Act provides for the licensure and regulation of private investigators by the Director of Consumer Affairs and requires an agreement to provide a service under the act to be in writing and contain, among other things, the approximate start and completion dates of the work to be provided. Under this bill, a master agreement for frequently contracted services over a specified period of time would be exempt from the above-described requirement to include the approximate start and completion dates of the work, if the agreement includes the beginning and termination dates. (5) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law defines a request regarding resuscitative measures to mean a written document, signed by an individual with capacity or legally recognized health care decisionmaker and the individual's physician that directs a health care provider regarding resuscitative measures, as prescribed. Existing law includes a prehospital "do not resuscitate" form, as developed by the Emergency Medical Services Authority or other substantially similar form, and Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form (POLST form) , as approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority as requests regarding resuscitative measures. This bill would replace the term "Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment" with "POLST," or "Portable Orders Listing Scope of Treatment." The bill would authorize a request regarding resuscitative measures to be entered into by an individual with capacity or a health care agent, conservator with health care decisionmaking authority, or surrogate, as defined, and a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, as specified. The bill would specify that a request regarding resuscitative measures is entirely voluntary and the provision of care or admission to a facility cannot be conditioned on completion of or refusal to complete a POLST or prehospital "do not resuscitate" order. Existing law prescribes requirements for forms for requests regarding resuscitative measures, including, among other things, that the form be signed by the executing parties. The bill would specify that an electronic signature, as defined, is sufficient for any signature required for a request regarding resuscitative measures. Under this bill, a request regarding resuscitative measures executed in another state or jurisdiction that complies with the laws of that state or jurisdiction or the laws of California is considered valid and enforceable in California to the same extent as a request regarding resuscitative measures validly executed in California. The bill would specify that, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, a physician or other health care provider may presume that a request regarding resuscitative measures, whether executed in another state or jurisdiction or in California, is valid and unrevoked. The bill would make conforming changes.
Existing law, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, establishes the Respiratory Care Board of California to license and regulate respiratory care practitioners. Existing law authorizes the board to employ an executive office, as specified. Existing law establishes fees for license and examination requirements for respiratory care practitioners, including an initial license fee of no more than $300 and a license renewal fee at $230, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board to increase the license renewal fee, by regulation, to no more than $330. Existing law repeals the existence of the board and the authority for employment of an executive officer on January 1, 2027. This bill would extend the operation of the existence of the board and the executive officer to January 1, 2031, and would delete the initial license fee provision. The bill would increase the license renewal fee to $330 and would authorize the board to increase the license renewal fee, by regulation, to $375. Existing law establishes requirements for licensure as a respiratory care practitioner and generally prohibits an applicant for licensure from being licensed without first successfully passing the National Board for Respiratory Care's Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination, at the cut-off level required to qualify for the Clinical Simulation Examination, and the Clinical Simulation Examination, or any succeeding examinations. This bill would revise the above provision to instead prohibit an applicant from being licensed under these provisions without first successfully passing the National Board for Respiratory Care's Respiratory Therapy Examination, at the cut-off level required to qualify for the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, or any succeeding examinations. Existing law authorizes the board to order the denial, suspension, or revocation of, or the imposition of probationary conditions upon, a license of a respiratory care practitioner for certain specified acts, including the commission of any fraudulent, dishonest, or corrupt act that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee. Existing law further requires the board to revoke or suspend a license for the conviction of a crime that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee. Existing law deems a crime involving sexual misconduct or attempted sexual misconduct, regardless of whether committed with a patient, to be a substantially related crime and requires the board to revoke a license for sexual contact with a patient or for the commission of, or conviction for, a sex offense, as defined. This bill would additionally require the board to suspend the license of a respiratory care practitioner convicted of specified felonies, regardless of whether the offense was committed in the course of practice, and notwithstanding any other provision. The bill would require the board to revoke the license if the specified conviction becomes final. The bill would authorize the board to decline to impose or to set aside a suspension in the interest of justice and would require the board to rescind a license suspension or revocation if the conviction is overturned, as provided. The bill would authorize a licensee to request a hearing to determine the appropriate level of discipline and would prohibit an administrative law judge from considering expert testimony regarding whether the conviction is substantially related to the practice of respiratory care. The Respiratory Care Practice Act authorizes the board to promulgate regulations defining specified levels of respiratory care, with each requiring a greater degree of training or skill to perform. Existing law specifies the lowest level as basic services, which are tasks or services that do not require a respiratory assessment and only require manual, technical skills, or data collection. Existing law, the Vocational Nursing Practice Act, limits a licensed vocational nurse to basic respiratory tasks and services, as prescribed. Existing law exempts from the Respiratory Care Practice Act specified tasks performed by a licensed vocational nurse. In this regard, existing law authorizes a licensed vocational nurse to perform respiratory tasks and services under specified circumstances that vary depending on the task or service, the nurse's training, demonstrated competency, and employer, and the setting in which the task or service is performed, as provided. Specifically, existing law authorizes a licensed vocational nurse who is employed by a home health agency to perform respiratory tasks and services identified by the board if, on or before January 1, 2028, the licensed vocational nurse has completed patient-specific training satisfactory to their employer, and, on and after that date, the licensed vocational nurse has completed that training in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the board, in collaboration with the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California. This bill would expand the respiratory tasks and services a licensed vocational nurse is authorized to perform. In this regard, the bill would remove the above requirement that a licensed vocational nurse be employed by a home health agency to perform respiratory tasks and services identified by the board, and would, instead, authorize a licensed vocational nurse to perform these services in expanded settings, including, among others, congregate living health facilities, group homes, and adult residential facilities. The bill would authorize a licensed vocational nurse to perform certain suctioning tasks, as specified. Existing law specifies that the Respiratory Care Practice Act is not intended to limit, preclude, or otherwise interfere with the practice of other licensed personnel carrying out authorized and customary duties and functions. This bill would provide that certain activities are not considered to be practicing respiratory care, including documenting observations and gathering and reporting data to another health care provider, as specified.
