Assembly Bill No. 2859

CHAPTER 473

An act to add Section 464 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations.

[Approved by Governor September 22, 2016. Filed with Secretary of State September 22, 2016.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2859, Low. Professions and vocations: retired category: licenses.

Existing law provides for numerous boards, bureaus, commissions, or programs within the Department of Consumer Affairs that administer the licensing and regulation of various businesses and professions. Existing law authorizes any of the boards, bureaus, commissions, or programs within the department, except as specified, to establish by regulation a system for an inactive category of license for persons who are not actively engaged in the practice of their profession or vocation. Under existing law, the holder of an inactive license is prohibited from engaging in any activity for which a license is required. Existing law defines “board” for these purposes to include, unless expressly provided otherwise, a bureau, commission, committee, department, division, examining committee, program, and agency.

This bill would additionally authorize any of the boards within the department to establish by regulation a system for a retired category of license for persons who are not actively engaged in the practice of their profession or vocation. The bill would require that regulation to include specified provisions, including that a retired license be issued to a person with either an active license or an inactive license that was not placed on inactive status for disciplinary reasons. The bill also would prohibit the holder of a retired license from engaging in any activity for which a license is required, unless the board, by regulation, specifies the criteria for a retired licensee to practice his or her profession. The bill would authorize a board upon its own determination, and would require a board upon receipt of a complaint from any person, to investigate the actions of any licensee, including, among others, a person with a license that is retired or inactive. The bill would not apply to a board that has other statutory authority to establish a retired license.

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 464 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

464.  

(a) Any of the boards within the department may establish, by regulation, a system for a retired category of licensure for persons who are not actively engaged in the practice of their profession or vocation.

(b) The regulation shall contain the following:

(1) A retired license shall be issued to a person with either an active license or an inactive license that was not placed on inactive status for disciplinary reasons.

(2) The holder of a retired license issued pursuant to this section shall not engage in any activity for which a license is required, unless the board, by regulation, specifies the criteria for a retired licensee to practice his or her profession or vocation.

(3) The holder of a retired license shall not be required to renew that license.

(4) The board shall establish an appropriate application fee for a retired license to cover the reasonable regulatory cost of issuing a retired license.

(5) In order for the holder of a retired license issued pursuant to this section to restore his or her license to an active status, the holder of that license shall meet all the following:

(A) Pay a fee established by statute or regulation.

(B) Certify, in a manner satisfactory to the board, that he or she has not committed an act or crime constituting grounds for denial of licensure.

(C) Comply with the fingerprint submission requirements established by regulation.

(D) If the board requires completion of continuing education for renewal of an active license, complete continuing education equivalent to that required for renewal of an active license, unless a different requirement is specified by the board.

(E) Complete any other requirements as specified by the board by regulation.

(c) A board may upon its own determination, and shall upon receipt of a complaint from any person, investigate the actions of any licensee, including a person with a license that either restricts or prohibits the practice of that person in his or her profession or vocation, including, but not limited to, a license that is retired, inactive, canceled, revoked, or suspended.

(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not apply to a board that has other statutory authority to establish a retired license.



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