BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1588
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1588 (Atkins)
As Amended March 5, 2012
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Bill Berryhill, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Allen, Butler, | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Eng, Hagman, Atkins, Ma | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, |
| | | |Ammiano, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Solorio, Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Requires boards under the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
to waive professional license renewal fees and continuing education (CE)
requirements for military reservists called to active duty.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the licensing and regulation of various professions and
businesses by 26 boards, eight bureaus, and one commission within DCA
under various licensing acts within the Business and Professions Code.
2)Authorizes members of the California National Guard (CNG) or the
United States (U.S.) Armed Forces to reinstate their professional
license or registration without examination or penalty if their
license or registration expired while the licensee or registrant was
on active duty.
3)Requires the State Bar of California to waive the membership fees of
any attorney in good standing for the duration of his or her military
service when written proof of military service is provided to the
State Bar.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
unknown, potentially significant revenue loss, in excess of $150,000 per
year, in licensing revenue (various special funds). The majority of
programs under the Department of Consumer Affairs do not track whether a
licensee is a reservist member. Of those that do, approximately
AB 1588
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one-third to one-half of one percent of licensees fall under that
category. Assuming that percentage across all the various licensing
categories and in the unlikely event that half of those reservists were
called to active duty at the same time, it would result in an annual
revenue loss of up to $500,000.
COMMENTS : Existing law authorizes members of the CNG or the U.S. Armed
Forces to reinstate his or her professional license or registration
without examination or penalty if their license expired while the
licensee or registrant was on active duty. Any licensee or registrant
who continues to practice the profession for which he or she is licensed
or registered for, either part-time or full-time, must maintain an
active license in good standing, even while serving in the military.
This bill only applies to military reservists called to active duty, and
would exempt them from paying license renewal fees or fulfilling CE
requirements during military service. License renewal fees and CE
requirements vary according to each profession and its regulatory board,
commission, or bureau.
Analysis Prepared by : Joanna Gin / B.,P. & C.P. / (916) 319-3301 FN:
0003916