BILL ANALYSIS
SB 136
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 136 (Figueroa)
As Amended August 20, 2001
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :39-0
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS 12-0 APPROPRIATIONS 20-0
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|Ayes:|Correa, John Campbell, |Ayes:|Midgen, Bates, Alquist, |
| |Bogh, Cedillo, Chavez, | |Aroner, Ashburn, Cedillo, |
| |Corbett, Kelley, Koretz, | |Corbett, Correa, Daucher, |
| |Leach, Matthews, Nation, | |Goldberg, Maldonado, |
| |Wesson | |Papan, Pavley, Runner, |
| | | |Simitian, Thomson, |
| | | |Washington, Wiggins, |
| | | |Wright, Zettel |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends the sunset review dates for the Board of
Guide Dogs for the Blind (BGDB), California Tax Education
Council (CTEC), California Council for Interior Design
Certification (CCIDC), increases licensing fees for
professional engineers and land surveyors regulated by the
Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (BPELS),
and makes other technical and clarifying changes pursuant
to the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Sunset
Review Committee (JLSRC) and the Department of Consumer
Affairs (DCA). Specifically, this bill :
1)Extends the inoperative and repeal dates for BGDB to July
1, 2006, and January 1, 2007 (instead of July 1, 2002,
and January 1, 2003).
2)Extends the inoperative and repeal dates for CTEC to July
1, 2008, and January 1, 2009 (instead of July 1, 2002 and
January 1, 2003), and requires two of the CTEC
representatives to be tax preparers.
3)Extends the sunset date for CCIDC to January 1, 2004
(instead of January 1, 2002), and requires CCIDC to:
a) Report back to JLSRC by September 1, 2002, on outreach
SB 136
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efforts, examinations, finances, interactions with the
California Legislative Council on Interior Design, and
other information; and,
a) Have an independent audit detailing revenue and
expenditures and furnish the audit results to JLSRC within
a reasonable time.
1)Requires an interior design organization to be registered as a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and makes sole
representation as a certified interior designer an unfair
business practice unless there is compliance with specified
provisions of law.
2)Extends the inoperative and repeal dates for BPELS to July 1,
2004, and January 1, 2005 (instead of July 1, 2002 and January
1, 2003), and authorizes BPELS to utilize the national
examination for licensure as a land surveyor on or before to
June 1, 2003.
3)Increases the application-filing fee for registration and
application for authority level designation as a professional
engineer to $400 every two years (instead of $175 every four
years) and increases the certification as an
engineer-in-training to be not more than $100 (instead of $60)
and increases the application-filing fee for licensure as a
land surveyor to be not more than $400 (instead of $175) and
increases the certification as a land surveyor in training to
be not more than $100 (instead of $60).
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates JLSRC whereby the licensing boards of DCA are
subject to sunset review.
2)Provides that when any board at DCA becomes inoperative
and repealed, DCA shall succeed and assume all duties and
responsibilities of the inoperative board.
3)Provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that
all existing and proposed consumer-related boards or
categories of licensed professionals be subject to sunset
review on a four-year cycle, unless the board is granted
a longer or shorter cycle.
SB 136
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FISCAL EFFECT : Special fund revenue increase, from
increased fees, of about $1 million in 2001-02 and
increasing to about $4 million in 2004-05 and thereafter
(Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Fund).
COMMENTS : The purpose of this bill is to implement
legislative changes recommended by JLSRC for several
licensing boards within DCA. In 2000-01, JLSRC reviewed
three boards and one committee auxiliary under DCA, and two
private nonprofit organizations independent of DCA. The
initial assessment covered the Board of Accountancy (BA),
Dental Board (DB), BGDB, Committee on Dental Auxiliaries
(CDA), CTEC, and CCIDC. Preliminary recommendations by
JLSRC were made based on findings concerning each licensing
board. JLSRC discussed the findings and recommendations
with the individual boards, professional groups, consumer
advocacy organizations and individual consumers. JLSRC
recommendations regarding the BA, DB, and CDA are
incorporated in other legislation.
According to the author, there is a critical need for the
fee increase contained in this bill pertaining to BPELS.
According to BPELS, the fee increases will prevent BPELS
from accumulating a $1.7 million deficit by fiscal year
2003-04. By increasing the licensing and certification
fees, BPELS will be able to continue to support current
examination processes and enforcement programs.
Analysis Prepared by : Chris L. Gallardo / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0002467