Bill Text: CA ACR131 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Professions and vocations: licensing fees: equity.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 42-22-1)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [ACR131 Detail]

Download: California-2015-ACR131-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: ACR 131	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Patterson
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Chávez, Gordon, and Wilk)
   (Coauthor: Senator Anderson)

                        FEBRUARY 2, 2016

   Relative to professions and vocations.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 131, as introduced, Patterson. Professions and vocations:
licensing fees: equity.
   This measure would encourage the Department of Consumer Affairs
and its boards, bureaus, and commissions to create policies that
promote fairness and equity to guarantee that each licensee pays a
fair amount, especially in regards to initial and ongoing license
fees.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of
various professions and vocations by boards, bureaus, and committees
within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including, among others,
accountants, acupuncturists, architects, athletes, automotive
mechanics, barbers and cosmologists, chiropractors, contractors,
court reporters, dental hygienists, dentists, doctors, engineers,
fiduciaries, marriage and family therapists, nurses, optometrists,
osteopathic physicians and surgeons, pharmacists, physical
therapists, physician assistants, private schools, private guards and
other security-related jobs, psychologists, realtors, respiratory
care practitioners, speech pathologists, social workers, and
veterinarians; and
   WHEREAS, The mission of many of the boards, bureaus, and
committees within the Department of Consumer Affairs is to protect
people and promote the health and safety of Californians by licensing
and regulating various professions and vocations; and
   WHEREAS, Hardworking individuals must often complete hundreds of
hours of professional training requirements, including, but not
limited to, education, schooling, internships, or other requirements,
to meet professional licensing standards in order to be licensed by
the State of California and pursue their profession; and
   WHEREAS, Existing law establishes fees for initial licenses,
initial temporary and permanent licenses, and original licenses for
those various professions and vocations; and
   WHEREAS, Licensees may spend up to hundreds of dollars for their
initial license and pay thousands of dollars to the State of
California over their career to maintain their license, not including
the thousands of dollars licensees may pay to put themselves through
training or educational programs to gain the skills needed for a
given profession; and
   WHEREAS, Existing law requires that licenses issued to certain
licensees expire at 12 a.m. on either the last day of the birth month
of the licensee or at 12 a.m. of the legal birth date of the
licensee during the 2nd year of a 2-year term if not renewed, yet
fails to provide licensees the opportunity to prorate their initial
licensing fee to the specific amount of time actually licensed; and
   WHEREAS, The Governor supports an equitable licensing fee policy
that would prorate license fees based on how many months have elapsed
between the initial issuance of a license and the time of renewal,
as stated in his message upon vetoing Assembly Bill 483 (Patterson,
2015), which was unanimously passed by the Senate and passed the
Assembly with a vote of 78-0; and
   WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes the important and valuable
services that those licensees provide to the state; now, therefore,
be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages the Department of
Consumer Affairs and its boards, bureaus, and commissions to create
policies that promote fairness and equity to guarantee that each
licensee pays a fair amount, especially in regards to initial and
ongoing license fees; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.