BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 136|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 136
Author: Figueroa (D), et al
Amended: 9/4/01
Vote: 21
SENATE BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/30/01
AYES: Figueroa, Johannessen, Machado, Murray, Polanco
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 8-0, 5/21/01
AYES: Alpert, Battin, Burton, Escutia, Johannessen,
McPherson, Perata, Poochigian
SENATE FLOOR : 39-0, 5/29/01 (Consent)
AYES: Ackerman, Alarcon, Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Brulte,
Burton, Chesbro, Costa, Dunn, Escutia, Figueroa, Haynes,
Johannessen, Johnson, Karnette, Knight, Kuehl, Machado,
Margett, McClintock, McPherson, Monteith, Murray,
O'Connell, Oller, Ortiz, Peace, Perata, Polanco,
Poochigian, Romero, Scott, Sher, Soto, Speier, Torlakson,
Vasconcellos, Vincent
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 9/5/01 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Professional boards
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill 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
CONTINUED
SB 136
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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).
Assembly amendments :
1. Delete provisions to revise and update the Geologists
and Geophysicists Act.
2. Modify various provisions relating to professional
engineers, interior designers and tax preparers.
ANALYSIS : Existing law:
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
members to be tax preparers who have complied with
specified CTEC requirements.
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 efforts, examinations, finances, interactions
with the California Legislative Council on Interior
Design, and other information.
B. 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.
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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).
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.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to Assembly Appropriations Committee:
1. 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).
2. Any costs to the effected entities would be minor and
absorbable.
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/4/01)
Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
California Council of the Blind
California Legislative Conference on Interior Design
Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Aanestad, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Bates, Bogh,
Briggs, Calderon, Bill Campbell, John Campbell,
Canciamilla, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Chan, Chavez,
Chu, Cogdill, Cohn, Correa, Cox, Daucher, Diaz,
Dickerson, Dutra, Firebaugh, Florez, Frommer, Goldberg,
Harman, Havice, Horton, Jackson, Keeley, Kehoe, Kelley,
Koretz, La Suer, Leach, Leonard, Leslie, Liu, Longville,
Lowenthal, Maddox, Matthews, Migden, Mountjoy, Nation,
Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Robert Pacheco, Rod Pacheco,
Papan, Pavley, Pescetti, Reyes, Richman, Runner, Salinas,
Shelley, Simitian, Steinberg, Strickland, Strom-Martin,
Thomson, Vargas, Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins,
Wright, Wyland, Zettel, Hertzberg
CP:sl 9/6/01 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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