California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 131

Introduced by Assembly Member Patterson

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chávez, Gordon, and Wilk)

(Coauthor: Senator Anderson)

February 2, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 131—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.