Amended in Senate May 2, 2013

Amended in Senate April 18, 2013

Senate Bill No. 308

Introduced by Senator Price

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Gordon)

February 15, 2013

An act to amend Sections 5800, 5810, 5812, 7200, 7215.6, 7303, and 7362 of, and to add Sections 5806, 5807, and 5811.1 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 308, as amended, Price. Professions and vocations.

(1) Existing law authorizes a certified interior designer, as defined, to obtain a stamp from an interior design organization, as defined, that uniquely identifies the designer and certifies that he or she meets certain qualifications and requires the use of that stamp on all drawings and documents submitted to any governmental agency by the designer. Existing law provides that these provisions are repealed on January 1, 2014, and shall be subject to review by the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions, and Consumer Protection, which has been abolished.

This bill would instead repeal those provisions on January 1, 2018, and would make them subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would include in the definition of a certified interior designer that a certified interior designer provides plans and documents that illustrate specified things and engages in coordination and collaboration with other design professionals, as specified.

The bill would require a certified interior designer to use a written contract that includes specified information when contracting to provide interior design services to a client pursuant to these provisions and require that nothing in these provisions prohibit interior design or interior decorator services by any person or retail activity.

The bill would require all meetings of an interior design organization to be subject to the open meeting requirements applicable to state agencies.

(2) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various businesses and professions by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Existing law requires that the board consist of certain members. Existing law establishes a pilot project to provide an arbitration procedure for the purpose of resolving disputes between a guide dog user and a licensed guide dog school, as specified. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2014.

This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2018.

(3) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of barbering and cosmetology by the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and authorizes the board to appoint an executive officer. Under existing law, these provisions are repealed on January 1, 2014.

This bill would instead repeal these provisions on January 1, begin delete 2018, end delete begin insert 2016, end insert and specify that the board would be subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature upon repeal.

Existing law provides that a board-approved school of barbering and cosmetology is one that is licensed by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education or a public school in the state, and offers a course of instruction approved by the board.

This bill would require a school to be approved by the board before it is approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and authorize both entities to simultaneously process a school’s application for approval. The bill would also authorize the board to revoke, suspend, or deny its approval of a school on specified grounds.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 5800 of the Business and Professions
Code is amended to read:

5800.  

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Certified interior designer” means a person who meets all
of the following requirements:

(1) Prepares and submits nonstructural or nonseismic plans and
documents consistent with Sections 5805 and 5538 to local building
departments that are of sufficient complexity so as to require the
skills of a licensed contractor to implement them.

(2) Engages in programming, planning, designing, and
documenting the construction and installation of nonstructural or
nonseismic elements, finishes, veneers, and furnishings within the
interior spaces of a building.

(3) Provides plans and documents that illustrate partition layouts,
horizontal exiting, rated corridors, reflected ceiling plans and
lighting orientation, location of power and communication outlets,
materials, finishes, furniture, interior alterations, fixtures, millwork,
appliances, and equipment.

(4) Engages in coordination and collaboration with other design
professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services,
including, but not limited to, architects, engineers, and other
specialty consultants.

(5) Has demonstrated by means of education, experience and
examination, the competency to protect and enhance the health,
safety, and welfare of the public.

(b) An “interior design organization” means a nonprofit
organization, exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of
Title 26 of the United States Code, of certified interior designers
whose governing board shall include representatives of the public,
except that an organization that is not currently exempt under that
section that submits an application to the Internal Revenue Service
requesting an exemption under that section shall be eligible to be
an interior design organization if it meets the requirements under
that section within a reasonable period of time.

SEC. 2.  

Section 5806 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:

5806.  

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit interior design or
interior decorator services by any person or retail activity.

SEC. 3.  

Section 5807 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:

5807.  

(a) A certified interior designer shall use a written
contract when contracting to provide interior design services to a
client pursuant to this chapter. The written contract shall be
executed by the certified interior designer and the client, or his or
her representative, prior to the certified interior designer
commencing work. The written contract shall include, but not be
limited to, all of the following:

(1) A description of the services to be provided to the client by
the certified interior designer.

(2) A description of any basis of compensation applicable to
the contract and the method of payment agreed upon by the parties.

(3) The name, address, and certification number of the certified
interior designer and the name and address of the client.

(4) A description of the procedure that the certified interior
designer and the client will use to accommodate additional services.

(5) A description of the procedure to be used by any party to
terminate the contract.

(6) A three-day rescission clause in accordance with Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 1688) of Title 5 of Part 2 of Division
3 of the Civil Code.

(7) A written disclosure stating whether the certified interior
designer carries errors and omissions insurance.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Interior design services rendered by a certified interior
designer for which the client will not pay compensation.

(2) Interior design services rendered by a certified interior
designer to any of the following:

(A) An architect licensed under Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 5500).

(B) A landscape architect licensed under Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 5615).

(C) An engineer licensed under Chapter 7 (commencing with
Section 6700).

(c) As used in this section, “written contract” includes a contract
in electronic form.

SEC. 4.  

Section 5810 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:

5810.  

(a) This chapter shall be subject to review by the
appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.

(b) This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 5.  

Section 5811.1 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:

5811.1.  

The meetings of an interior design organization issuing
stamps under Section 5801 shall be subject to the rules of the
Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with
Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code).

SEC. 6.  

Section 5812 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:

5812.  

It is an unfair business practice for any person to
represent or hold himself or herself out as, or to use the title
“certified interior designer” or any other term, such as “licensed,”
“registered,” or “CID,” that implies or suggests that the person is
certified as an interior designer when he or she does not hold a
valid certification as provided in Sections 5800 and 5801.

SEC. 7.  

Section 7200 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:

7200.  

(a) There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a
State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind in whom enforcement of
this chapter is vested. The board shall consist of seven members
appointed by the Governor. One member shall be the Director of
Rehabilitation or his or her designated representative. The
remaining members shall be persons who have shown a particular
interest in dealing with the problems of the blind, and at least two
of them shall be blind persons who use guide dogs.

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.
Notwithstanding any other law, the repeal of this section renders
the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committees
of the Legislature.

SEC. 8.  

Section 7215.6 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

7215.6.  

(a) In order to provide a procedure for the resolution
of disputes between guide dog users and guide dog schools relating
to the continued physical custody and use of a guide dog, in all
cases except those in which the dog user is the unconditional legal
owner of the dog, the following arbitration procedure shall be
established as a pilot project.

(b) This procedure establishes an arbitration panel for the
settlement of disputes between a guide dog user and a licensed
guide dog school regarding the continued use of a guide dog by
the user in all cases except those in which the dog user is the
unconditional legal owner of the dog. The disputes that may be
subject to this procedure concern differences between the user and
school over whether or not a guide dog should continue to be used,
differences between the user and school regarding the treatment
of a dog by the user, and differences over whether or not a user
should continue to have custody of a dog pending investigation of
charges of abuse. It specifically does not address issues such as
admissions to schools, training practices, or other issues relating
to school standards. The board and its representative are not parties
to any dispute described in this section.

(c) The licensed guide dog schools in California and the board
shall provide to guide dog users graduating from guide dog
programs in these schools a new avenue for the resolution of
disputes that involve continued use of a guide dog, or the actual
physical custody of a guide dog. Guide dog users who are
dissatisfied with decisions of schools regarding continued use of
guide dogs may appeal to the board to convene an arbitration panel
composed of all of the following:

(1) One person designated by the guide dog user.

(2) One person designated by the licensed guide dog school.

(3) A representative of the board who shall coordinate the
activities of the panel and serve as chair.

(d) If the guide dog user or guide dog school wishes to utilize
the arbitration panel, this must be stated in writing to the board.
The findings and decision of the arbitration panel shall be final
and binding. By voluntarily agreeing to having a dispute resolved
by the arbitration panel and subject to its procedures, each party
to the dispute shall waive any right for subsequent judicial review.

(e) (1) A licensed guide dog school that fails to comply with
any provision of this section shall automatically be subject to a
penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per day for each day
in which a violation occurs. The penalty shall be paid to the board.
The license of a guide dog school shall not be renewed until all
penalties have been paid.

(2) The penalty shall be assessed without advance hearing, but
the licensee may apply to the board for a hearing on the issue of
whether the penalty should be modified or set aside. This
application shall be in writing and shall be received by the board
within 30 days after service of notice of the penalty. Upon receipt
of this written request, the board shall set the matter for hearing
within 60 days.

(f) As a general rule, custody of the guide dog shall remain with
the guide dog user pending a resolution by the arbitration panel.
In circumstances where the immediate health and safety of the
guide dog user or guide dog is threatened, the licensed school may
take custody of the dog at once. However, if the dog is removed
from the user’s custody without the user’s concurrence, the school
shall provide to the board the evidence that caused this action to
be taken at once and without fail; and within five calendar days a
special committee of two members of the board shall make a
determination regarding custody of the dog pending hearing by
the arbitration panel.

(g) (1) The arbitration panel shall decide the best means to
determine final resolution in each case. This shall include, but is
not limited to, a hearing of the matter before the arbitration panel
at the request of either party to the dispute, an opportunity for each
party in the dispute to make presentations before the arbitration
panel, examination of the written record, or any other inquiry as
will best reveal the facts of the disputes. In any case, the panel
shall make its findings and complete its examination within 45
calendar days of the date of filing the request for arbitration, and
a decision shall be rendered within 10 calendar days of the
examination.

(2) All begin insert arbitration end insert hearings shall be held at sites convenient to
the parties and with a view to minimizing costs. Each party to the
arbitration shall bear its own costs, except that the arbitration panel,
by unanimous agreement, may modify this arrangement.

(h) The board may study the effectiveness of the arbitration
panel pilot project in expediting resolution and reducing conflict
in disputes between guide dog users and guide dog schools and
may share its findings with the Legislature upon request.

(i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 9.  

Section 7303 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:

7303.  

(a) Notwithstanding Article 8 (commencing with Section
9148) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the
Government Code, there is in the Department of Consumer Affairs
the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in which the
administration of this chapter is vested.

(b) The board shall consist of nine members. Five members
shall be public members, and four members shall represent the
professions. The Governor shall appoint three of the public
members and the four professional members. The Senate
Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each
appoint one public member. Members of the board shall be
appointed for a term of four years, except that of the members
appointed by the Governor, two of the public members and two
of the professions members shall be appointed for an initial term
of two years. No board member may serve longer than two
consecutive terms.

(c) The board may appoint an executive officer who is exempt
from civil service. The executive officer shall exercise the powers
and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in him
or her by this chapter. The appointment of the executive officer is
subject to the approval of the director. In the event that a newly
authorized board replaces an existing or previous bureau, the
director may appoint an interim executive officer for the board
who shall serve temporarily until the new board appoints a
permanent executive officer.

(d) The executive officer shall provide examiners, inspectors,
and other personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this
chapter.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, begin delete 2018, end delete
begin insert 2016, end insert and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, begin delete 2018, end delete begin insert 2016, end insert deletes or extends
that date. Notwithstanding any other law, the repeal of this section
renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy
committees of the Legislature.

SEC. 10.  

Section 7362 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

7362.  

(a) A school approved by the board is one that is first
approved by the board and subsequently approved by the Bureau
for Private Postsecondary Education or is a public school in this
state, and provides a course of instruction approved by the board.
However, notwithstanding any other law, both the board and the
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education may simultaneously
process a school’s application for approval.

(b) The board shall determine by regulation the required subjects
of instruction to be completed in all approved courses, including
the minimum hours of technical instruction and minimum number
of practical operations for each subject, and shall determine how
much training is required before a student may begin performing
services on paying patrons.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may revoke,
suspend, or deny at any time approval of a school on any of the
following grounds:

(1) Unprofessional conduct which includes, but is not limited
to, any of the following:

(A) Incompetence or gross negligence, including failure to
comply with generally accepted standards for the practice of
barbering, cosmetology, or electrology, or disregard for the health
and safety of patrons.

(B) Repeated similar negligent acts.

(C) Conviction of any crime substantially related to the
qualifications, functions, or duties of the owner of an approved
school, in which case, the records of conviction or a certified copy
thereof shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.

(D) Advertising by means of knowingly false or deceptive
statements.

(2) Failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(3) Failure to comply with the rules governing health and safety
adopted by the board and approved by the State Department of
Public Health, for the regulation of board-approved schools.

(4) Failure to comply with the rules adopted by the board for
the regulation of establishments, or any practice licensed and
regulated under this chapter.

(5) Continued practice by a person knowingly having an
infectious or contagious disease.

(6) Habitual drunkenness, or habitual use of or addiction to the
use of any controlled substance.

(7) Obtaining or attempting to obtain practice in any occupation
licensed and regulated under this chapter, or money, or
compensation in any form, by fraudulent misrepresentation.

(8) Failure to display the license or health and safety rules and
regulations in a conspicuous place.

(9) Refusal to permit or interference with an inspection
authorized under this chapter.

(10) Any action or conduct that would have warranted the denial
of a school approval.