BILL NUMBER: SB 2032 CHAPTERED 09/30/00 CHAPTER 1007 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2000 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 31, 2000 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 28, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 24, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 1, 2000 INTRODUCED BY Senator Figueroa FEBRUARY 25, 2000 An act to amend Sections 8000, 8005, 8030.2, 8030.4, 8030.6, and 8030.8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to shorthand reporting, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 2032, Figueroa. Shorthand reporting. Existing law establishes a Court Reporters Board of California which is responsible for regulating the practice of those engaged in shorthand reporting. Existing law also establishes the Transcript Reimbursement Fund to provide shorthand reporting services to low-income litigants by reimbursing applicants for the cost, as specified, of preparing transcripts. The moneys in the fund are derived from excess moneys in the Court Reporters' Fund and are continuously appropriated. Under existing law, the provisions creating the fund, the board, and enumerating some of the board's powers will become inoperative on July 1, 2001, and will be repealed January 1, 2002. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until July 1, 2005, would repeal them on January 1, 2006, and would make related changes. By extending the operation of the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. This bill would also incorporate additional changes in Sections 8030.4 and 8030.6 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by SB 449, to be operative only if that bill and this bill are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2001, and this bill is enacted last. Appropriation: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 8000 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8000. There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a Court Reporters Board of California, which consists of five members, three of whom shall be public members and two of whom shall be holders of certificates issued under this chapter who have been actively engaged as shorthand reporters within this state for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which becomes effective on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. The repeal of this section renders the board subject to the review required by Division 1.2 (commencing with Section 473), except that the review shall be limited to only those unresolved issues identified by the Joint Legislative Sunset Review Committee. SEC. 2. Section 8005 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8005. The Court Reporters Board of California is charged with the executive functions necessary for effectuating the purposes of this chapter. It may appoint committees as it deems necessary or proper. The board may appoint, prescribe the duties, and fix the salary of an executive officer. Except as provided by Section 159.5, the board may also employ other employees as may be necessary, subject to civil service and other provisions of law. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which becomes effective on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. The repeal of this section renders the board subject to the review required by Division 1.2 (commencing with Section 473), except that the review shall be limited to the board's examination program. SEC. 3. Section 8030.2 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8030.2. (a) To provide shorthand reporting services to low-income litigants in civil cases, who are unable to otherwise afford those services, funds generated by fees received by the board pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 8031 in excess of funds needed to support the board's operating budget for the fiscal year in which a transfer described below is made shall be used by the board for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a Transcript Reimbursement Fund. The Transcript Reimbursement Fund shall be established by a transfer of funds from the Court Reporters' Fund and shall be maintained in an amount no less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for each fiscal year. (b) All moneys held in the Court Reporters' Fund on the effective date of this section in excess of the board's operating budget for the 1996-97 fiscal year shall be used as provided in subdivision (a). (c) Refunds and unexpended funds that are anticipated to remain in the Transcript Reimbursement Fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be considered by the board in establishing the fee assessment pursuant to Section 8031 so that the assessment shall maintain the Transcript Reimbursement Fund at the appropriate level in the following fiscal year. (d) The Transcript Reimbursement Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the Transcript Reimbursement Fund are continuously appropriated for the purposes of this chapter. (e) Applicants who have been reimbursed pursuant to this chapter for services provided to litigants and who are awarded court costs or attorneys' fees by judgment or by settlement agreement, shall refund the full amount of that reimbursement to the fund within 90 days of receipt of the award or settlement. (f) Subject to the limitations of this chapter, the board shall maintain the fund at a level that is sufficient to pay all qualified claims. To accomplish this objective, the board shall utilize all refunds, unexpended funds, fees, and any other moneys received by the board. (g) Notwithstanding Section 16346 of the Government Code, all unencumbered funds remaining in the Transcript Reimbursement Fund as of June 29, 2001, shall be transferred to the Court Reporters' Fund. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 4. Section 8030.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8030.4. As used in this chapter: (a) "Qualified legal services project" means a nonprofit project incorporated and operated exclusively in California that provides as its primary purpose and function legal services without charge to indigent persons, has a board of directors or advisory board composed of both attorneys and consumers of legal services, and provides for community participation in legal services programming. Legal services projects funded either in whole or in part by the Legal Services Corporation or with Older Americans Act funds are presumed to be qualified legal services projects for the purposes of this chapter. (b) "Qualified support center" means an incorporated nonprofit legal services center, having an office or offices in California, which office or offices provide legal services or technical assistance without charge to qualified legal services projects and their clients on a multicounty basis in California. Support centers funded either in whole or in part by the Legal Services Corporation or with Older Americans Act funds are presumed to be qualified legal services projects for the purposes of this chapter. (c) "Other qualified project" means a nonprofit organization formed for charitable or other public purposes, not receiving funds from the Legal Services Corporation or pursuant to the Older Americans Act, which organization or association provides free legal services to indigent persons. (d) "Pro bono attorney" means any attorney, law firm, or legal corporation, licensed to practice law in this state, which undertakes without charge to the party the representation of an indigent person, referred by a qualified legal services project, qualified support center, or other qualified project, in a case not considered to be fee generating as defined in this chapter. (e) "Applicant" means a qualified legal services project, qualified support center, other qualified project, or pro bono attorney applying to receive funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund established by this chapter. The term "applicant" shall not include persons appearing pro se to represent themselves at any stage of the case. (f) "Indigent person" means either a person whose income is 125 percent or less of the current poverty threshold established by the Office of Management and Budget of the United States, a disabled person whose income after meeting medical and other disability-related special expenses is 125 percent or less of that current poverty threshold, or a person who receives or is eligible to receive supplemental security income. (g) "Fee-generating case" means any case or matter which, if undertaken on behalf of an eligible client by an attorney in private practice, reasonably may be expected to result in payment of a fee for legal services from an award to a client, from public funds, or from an opposing party. A reasonable expectation as to payment of a legal fee exists wherever a client enters into a contingent fee agreement with his or her lawyer. If there is no contingent fee agreement, a case is not considered fee generating if adequate representation is deemed to be unavailable because of the occurrence of any of the following circumstances: (1) Where the applicant has determined that referral is not possible because of any of the following: (A) The case has been rejected by the local lawyer referral service, or if there is no such service, by two private attorneys who have experience in the subject matter of the case. (B) Neither the referral service nor any lawyer will consider the case without payment of a consultation fee. (C) The case is of the type that private attorneys in the area ordinarily do not accept, or do not accept without prepayment of a fee. (D) Emergency circumstances compel immediate action before referral can be made, but the client is advised that, if appropriate and consistent with professional responsibility, referral will be attempted at a later time. (2) Where recovery of damages is not the principal object of the case and a request for damages is merely ancillary to an action for equitable or other nonpecuniary relief; or inclusion of a counterclaim requesting damages is necessary for effective defense or because of applicable rules governing joinder of counterclaims. (3) Where a court appoints an applicant or an employee of an applicant pursuant to a statute or a court rule or practice of equal applicability to all attorneys in the jurisdiction. (4) In any case involving the rights of a claimant under a public supported benefit program for which entitlement to benefit is based on need. (h) "Legal Services Corporation" means the Legal Services Corporation established under the Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974, Public Law 93-355, as amended. (i) "Supplemental security income recipient" means an individual receiving or eligible to receive payments under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, Public Law 92-603, as amended, or payment under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (j) "Lawyer referral service" means a lawyer referral program authorized by the State Bar of California pursuant to the rules of professional conduct. (k) "Older Americans Act" means the Older Americans Act of 1965, Public Law 89-73, as amended. (l) "Rules of professional conduct" means those rules adopted by the State Bar pursuant to Sections 6076 and 6077. (m) "Certified shorthand reporter" means a shorthand reporter certified pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 8020) performing shorthand reporting services pursuant to Section 8017. (n) "Case" means a single legal proceeding from its inception, through all levels of hearing, trial, and appeal, until its ultimate conclusion and disposition. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 4.5. Section 8030.4 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8030.4. As used in this chapter: (a) "Qualified legal services project" means a nonprofit project incorporated and operated exclusively in California that provides as its primary purpose and function legal services without charge to indigent persons, has a board of directors or advisory board composed of both attorneys and consumers of legal services, and provides for community participation in legal services programming. Legal services projects funded either in whole or in part by the Legal Services Corporation or with Older Americans Act funds are presumed to be qualified legal services projects for the purposes of this chapter. (b) "Qualified support center" means an incorporated nonprofit legal services center, having an office or offices in California, which office or offices provide legal services or technical assistance without charge to qualified legal services projects and their clients on a multicounty basis in California. Support centers funded either in whole or in part by the Legal Services Corporation or with Older Americans Act funds are presumed to be qualified legal services projects for the purposes of this chapter. (c) "Other qualified project" means a nonprofit organization formed for charitable or other public purposes, not receiving funds from the Legal Services Corporation or pursuant to the Older Americans Act, which organization or association provides free legal services to indigent persons. (d) "Pro bono attorney" means any attorney, law firm, or legal corporation, licensed to practice law in this state, which undertakes without charge to the party the representation of an indigent person, referred by a qualified legal services project, qualified support center, or other qualified project, in a case not considered to be fee generating as defined in this chapter. (e) "Applicant" means a qualified legal services project, qualified support center, other qualified project, or pro bono attorney applying to receive funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund established by this chapter, whether or not the applicant is representing a person who appeared pro se at any other stage of the case. "Applicant" also includes an unrepresented indigent person. (f) "Indigent person" means either a person whose income is 125 percent or less of the current poverty threshold established by the Office of Management and Budget of the United States, a disabled person whose income after meeting medical and other disability-related special expenses is 125 percent or less of that current poverty threshold, or a person who receives or is eligible to receive supplemental security income. (g) "Fee-generating case" means any case or matter which, if undertaken on behalf of an eligible client by an attorney in private practice, reasonably may be expected to result in payment of a fee for legal services from an award to a client, from public funds, or from an opposing party. A reasonable expectation as to payment of a legal fee exists wherever a client enters into a contingent fee agreement with his or her lawyer. If there is no contingent fee agreement, a case is not considered fee generating if adequate representation is deemed to be unavailable because of the occurrence of any of the following circumstances: (1) Where the applicant has determined that referral is not possible because of any of the following: (A) The case has been rejected by the local lawyer referral service, or if there is no such service, by two private attorneys who have experience in the subject matter of the case. (B) Neither the referral service nor any lawyer will consider the case without payment of a consultation fee. (C) The case is of the type that private attorneys in the area ordinarily do not accept, or do not accept without prepayment of a fee. (D) Emergency circumstances compel immediate action before referral can be made, but the client is advised that, if appropriate and consistent with professional responsibility, referral will be attempted at a later time. (2) Where recovery of damages is not the principal object of the case and a request for damages is merely ancillary to an action for equitable or other nonpecuniary relief; or inclusion of a counterclaim requesting damages is necessary for effective defense or because of applicable rules governing joinder of counterclaims. (3) Where a court appoints an applicant or an employee of an applicant pursuant to a statute or a court rule or practice of equal applicability to all attorneys in the jurisdiction. (4) In any case involving the rights of a claimant under a public supported benefit program for which entitlement to benefit is based on need. (h) "Legal Services Corporation" means the Legal Services Corporation established under the Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974, Public Law 93-355, as amended. (i) "Supplemental security income recipient" means an individual receiving or eligible to receive payments under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, Public Law 92-603, as amended, or payment under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (j) "Lawyer referral service" means a lawyer referral program authorized by the State Bar of California pursuant to the rules of professional conduct. (k) "Older Americans Act" means the Older Americans Act of 1965, Public Law 89-73, as amended. (l) "Rules of professional conduct" means those rules adopted by the State Bar pursuant to Sections 6076 and 6077. (m) "Certified shorthand reporter" means a shorthand reporter certified pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 8020) performing shorthand reporting services pursuant to Section 8017. (n) "Case" means a single legal proceeding from its inception, through all levels of hearing, trial, and appeal, until its ultimate conclusion and disposition. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 5. Section 8030.6 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8030.6. The board shall disburse funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund for the costs, exclusive of per diem charges, of preparing either an original transcript and one copy thereof, or where appropriate, a copy of the transcript, of court or deposition proceedings, or both, incurred as a contractual obligation between the shorthand reporter and the applicant, for litigation conducted in California. If no deposition transcript is ordered, the board may reimburse the applicant or the certified shorthand reporter designated in the application for per diem costs. The rate of per diem for depositions shall not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for a half day, or one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for a full day. In the event that a transcript is ordered within one year of the date of the deposition, but subsequent to the per diem having been reimbursed by the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, the amount of the per diem shall be deducted from the amount of transcript. Reimbursement may be obtained through the following procedures: (a) The applicant or certified shorthand reporter shall promptly submit to the board the certified shorthand reporter's invoice for transcripts together with the appropriate documentation as is required by this chapter. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), the board shall promptly determine if the applicant or the certified shorthand reporter is entitled to reimbursement under this chapter and shall make payment as follows: (1) Regular customary charges for preparation of original deposition transcripts and one copy thereof, or a copy of the transcripts. (2) Regular customary charges for expedited deposition transcripts up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per case. (3) Regular customary charges for the preparation of original transcripts and one copy thereof, or a copy of transcripts of court proceedings. (4) Regular customary charges for expedited or daily charges for preparation of original transcripts and one copy thereof or a copy of transcripts of court proceedings. (5) The charges may not include notary or handling fees. The charges may include actual shipping costs and exhibits, except that the cost of exhibits may not exceed thirty-five cents ($0.35) each or a total of thirty-five dollars ($35) per transcript. (c) The maximum amount reimbursable by the fund under subdivision (b) may not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per case per year. (d) If entitled, and funds are available, the board shall forthwith disburse the appropriate sum to the applicant or the certified shorthand reporter when documentation as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 8030.8 accompanies the application. A notice shall be sent to the recipient requiring the recipient to file a notice with the court in which the action is pending stating the sum of reimbursement paid pursuant to this section. The notice filed with the court shall also state that if the sum is subsequently included in any award of costs made in the action, that the sum is to be ordered refunded by the applicant to the Transcript Reimbursement Fund whenever the sum is actually recovered as costs. The court may not consider whether payment has been made from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund in determining the appropriateness of any award of costs to the parties. The board shall also forthwith notify the applicant that the reimbursed sum has been paid to the certified shorthand reporter and shall likewise notify the applicant of the duty to refund any of the sum actually recovered as costs in the action. (e) If not entitled, the board shall forthwith return a copy of the invoice to the applicant and the designated certified shorthand reporter together with a notice stating the grounds for denial. (f) The board shall complete its actions under this subdivision within 30 days of receipt of the invoice and all required documentation, including a completed application. (g) Applications for reimbursements from the fund shall be filled on a first-come basis. (h) Applications for reimbursement that cannot be paid from the fund due to insufficiency of the fund for that fiscal year shall be held over until the next fiscal year to be paid out of the renewed fund. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 5.5. Section 8030.6 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8030.6. The board shall disburse funds from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund for the costs, exclusive of per diem charges, of preparing either an original transcript and one copy thereof, or where appropriate, a copy of the transcript, of court or deposition proceedings, or both, incurred as a contractual obligation between the shorthand reporter and the applicant, for litigation conducted in California. If no deposition transcript is ordered, the board may reimburse the applicant or the certified shorthand reporter designated in the application for per diem costs. The rate of per diem for depositions shall not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for a half day, or one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for a full day. In the event that a transcript is ordered within one year of the date of the deposition, but subsequent to the per diem having been reimbursed by the Transcript Reimbursement Fund, the amount of the per diem shall be deducted from the amount of transcript. Reimbursement may be obtained through the following procedures: (a) The applicant or certified shorthand reporter shall promptly submit to the board the certified shorthand reporter's invoice for transcripts together with the appropriate documentation as is required by this chapter. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), the board shall promptly determine if the applicant or the certified shorthand reporter is entitled to reimbursement under this chapter and shall make payment as follows: (1) Regular customary charges for preparation of original deposition transcripts and one copy thereof, or a copy of the transcripts. (2) Regular customary charges for expedited deposition transcripts up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per case. (3) Regular customary charges for the preparation of original transcripts and one copy thereof, or a copy of transcripts of court proceedings. (4) Regular customary charges for expedited or daily charges for preparation of original transcripts and one copy thereof or a copy of transcripts of court proceedings. (5) The charges may not include notary or handling fees. The charges may include actual shipping costs and exhibits, except that the cost of exhibits may not exceed thirty-five cents ($0.35) each or a total of thirty-five dollars ($35) per transcript. (c) The maximum amount reimbursable by the fund under subdivision (b) may not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per case per year. For an applicant who appears pro se and is not represented by a qualified legal services project, qualified support center, other qualified project, or pro bono attorney, the maximum amount reimbursable by the fund under subdivision (b) may not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year. (d) If entitled, and funds are available, the board shall forthwith disburse the appropriate sum to the applicant or the certified shorthand reporter when documentation as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 8030.8 accompanies the application. A notice shall be sent to the recipient requiring the recipient to file a notice with the court in which the action is pending stating the sum of reimbursement paid pursuant to this section. The notice filed with the court shall also state that if the sum is subsequently included in any award of costs made in the action, that the sum is to be ordered refunded by the applicant to the Transcript Reimbursement Fund whenever the sum is actually recovered as costs. The court may not consider whether payment has been made from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund in determining the appropriateness of any award of costs to the parties. The board shall also forthwith notify the applicant that the reimbursed sum has been paid to the certified shorthand reporter and shall likewise notify the applicant of the duty to refund any of the sum actually recovered as costs in the action. (e) If not entitled, the board shall forthwith return a copy of the invoice to the applicant and the designated certified shorthand reporter together with a notice stating the grounds for denial. (f) The board shall complete its actions under this subdivision within 30 days of receipt of the invoice and all required documentation, including a completed application. (g) Applications for reimbursements from the fund shall be filled on a first-come basis. (h) Applications for reimbursement that cannot be paid from the fund due to insufficiency of the fund for that fiscal year shall be held over until the next fiscal year to be paid out of the renewed fund. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 6. Section 8030.8 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 8030.8. (a) For purposes of this chapter, documentation accompanying an invoice is sufficient to establish entitlement for reimbursement from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund if it is filed with the executive officer on an application form prescribed by the board that is complete in all respects, and that establishes all of the following: (1) The case name and number and that the litigant or litigants requesting the reimbursement are indigent persons. (2) The applicant is qualified under the provisions of this chapter. (3) The case is not a fee-generating case, as defined in Section 8030.4. (4) The invoice or other documentation shall evidence that the certified shorthand reporter to be reimbursed was, at the time the services were rendered, a duly licensed certified shorthand reporter. (5) The invoice shall be accompanied by a statement, signed by the applicant, stating that the charges are for transcripts actually provided as indicated on the invoice. (6) The applicant has acknowledged, in writing, that as a condition of entitlement for reimbursement that the applicant agrees to refund the entire amount disbursed from the Transcript Reimbursement Fund from any costs or attorneys' fees awarded to the applicant by the court or provided for in any settlement agreement in the case. (7) The certified shorthand reporter's invoice for transcripts shall include separate itemizations of charges claimed, as follows: (A) Total charges and rates for customary services in preparation of an original transcript and one copy or a copy of the transcript of depositions. (B) Total charges and rates for expedited deposition transcripts. (C) Total charges and rates in connection with transcription of court proceedings. (b) For an applicant claiming to be eligible pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 8030.4, a letter from the director of the project or center, certifying that the project or center meets the standards set forth in one of those subdivisions and that the litigant or litigants are indigent persons, is sufficient documentation to establish eligibility. (c) For an applicant claiming to be eligible pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 8030.4, a letter certifying that the applicant meets the requirements of that subdivision, that the case is not a fee-generating case, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 8030.4, and that the litigant or litigants are indigent persons, together with a letter from the director of a project or center defined in subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 8030.4 certifying that the litigant or litigants had been referred by that project or center to the applicant, is sufficient documentation to establish eligibility. (d) The applicant may receive reimbursement directly from the board when the applicant has previously paid the certified shorthand reporter for transcripts as provided in Section 8030.6. To receive payment directly, the applicant shall submit, in addition to all other required documentation, an itemized statement signed by the certified shorthand reporter performing the services that describes payment for transcripts in accordance with the requirements of Section 8030.6. (e) The board may prescribe appropriate forms to be used by applicants and certified reporters to facilitate these requirements. (f) This chapter does not restrict the contractual obligation or payment for services, including, but not limited to, billing the applicant directly, during the pendency of the claim. This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and, as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 7. Section 4.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 8030.4 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by both this bill and SB 449. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2001, (2) each bill amends Section 8030.4 of the Business and Professions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 449, in which case Section 4 of this bill shall not become operative. SEC. 8. Section 5.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 8030.6 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by both this bill and SB 449. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2001, (2) each bill amends Section 8030.6 of the Business and Professions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 449, in which case Section 5 of this bill shall not become operative.