BILL NUMBER: AB 623 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 30, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 11, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Emmerson
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Jones)
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
An act to amend Section 5600 of, and to add Section
5600.05 to , the Business and Professions Code, relating
to architects.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 623, as amended, Emmerson. Architects: continuing education.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of persons
engaged in the practice of architecture by the California Architects
Board. Existing law requires a person licensed to practice
architecture to complete , as a condition of license
renewal, to complete coursework regarding
disability access requirements, as specified, and to certify that
completion and to provide specified documentation to the
board.
This bill would authorize the board to audit the records of a
licensee to verify the completion of the coursework and would require
a license to provide the specified documentation only upon that
audit. The bill would exempt a licensee from these coursework
requirements for the licensee's first license renewal in certain
circumstances.
The bill would also authorize the board to require a
licensee, as a condition of license renewal, to certify to the board
that he or she has completed continuing education in, or relevant to,
the practice of architecture in subjects relating to health, safety,
and welfare. The If the board imposes that
requirement, the bill would require the board to adopt
regulations establishing requirements relating to continuing
education . The bill and would
authorize the board to audit the records of a licensee to verify
completion of any continuing education requirements.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5600 of the Business
and Professions Code is amended to read:
5600. (a) All licenses issued or renewed under this chapter shall
expire at 12 midnight on the last day of the birth month of the
licenseholder in each odd-numbered year following the issuance or
renewal of the license.
(b) To renew an unexpired license, the licenseholder shall, before
the time at which the license would otherwise expire, apply for
renewal on a form prescribed by the board and pay the renewal fee
prescribed by this chapter.
(c) The renewal form shall include a statement specifying whether
the licensee was convicted of a crime or disciplined by another
public agency during the preceding renewal period and that the
licensee's representations on the renewal form are true, correct, and
contain no material omissions of fact, to the best knowledge and
belief of the licensee.
(d) (1) As a condition of license renewal, a licensee shall have
completed coursework regarding disability access requirements
pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3). A licensee shall certify to the
board, as a part of the license renewal process, that he or she has
completed the required coursework prior to approval of his or her
license renewal and shall provide documentation from the course
provider that shall include the course title, subjects covered, name
of provider and trainer or educator, date of completion, number of
hours completed, and a statement about the trainer or educator's
knowledge and experience background.
(2) (A) For licenses renewed on and after July 1, 2009, and before
January 1, 2010, a licensee shall have completed one hour of
coursework.
(B) For licenses renewed on and after January 1, 2010, and before
January 1, 2011, a licensee shall have completed two and one-half
hours of coursework.
(C) For licenses renewed on and after January 1, 2011, a licensee
shall have completed five hours of coursework within the previous two
years.
(3) Coursework regarding disability access requirements shall
include information and practical guidance concerning requirements
imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law
101-336; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), state laws that govern access
to public facilities, and federal and state regulations adopted
pursuant to those laws. Coursework provided pursuant to this
paragraph shall be presented by trainers or educators with knowledge
and expertise in these requirements. The board shall require that a
licensee certify that he or she has satisfied the requirements of
this subdivision as a condition of license renewal.
SECTION 1. SEC. 2. Section 5600.05
is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
5600.05. (a) (1) As a condition of
license renewal, a licensee shall have completed coursework regarding
disability access requirements pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3). A
licensee shall certify to the board, as a part of the license
renewal process, that he or she has completed the required coursework
prior to approval of his or her license renewal and shall, upon a
board audit, provide documentation to the board from the course
provider that shall include the course title, subjects covered, name
of provider and trainer or educator, date of completion, number of
hours completed, and a statement about the trainer or
educator's knowledge and experience background.
(2) (A) For licenses renewed on and after July 1, 2009, and before
January 1, 2010, a licensee shall have completed one hour of
coursework.
(B) For licenses renewed on and after January 1, 2010, and before
January 1, 2011, a licensee shall have completed two and one-half
hours of coursework.
(C) For licenses renewed on and after January 1, 2011, a licensee
shall have completed five hours of coursework within the previous two
years.
(3) Coursework regarding disability access requirements shall
include information and practical guidance concerning requirements
imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law
101-336; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), state laws that govern access
to public facilities, and federal and state regulations adopted
pursuant to those laws. Coursework provided pursuant to this
paragraph shall be presented by trainers or educators with knowledge
and expertise in these requirements.
(4) The board may audit the records of a licensee to verify the
completion of the coursework requirements of this subdivision. A
licensee shall maintain records of completion of the required
coursework, containing the information specified in paragraph (1),
for two years from the date of license renewal and shall make those
records available to the board for auditing upon request.
(5) A licensee shall be exempt from the coursework requirements
set forth in this subdivision for his or her first license renewal if
his or her initial license is issued after January 1, 2010, and is
renewed within one year of that initial issuance date.
(b) (1) If the board
determines that the public health, safety, and welfare would be
served by requiring all architects issued a license under this
chapter to complete continuing education, it may require as a
condition of license renewal that the licensee certifies to the
board, on a form prescribed by the board, that he or she has
completed continuing education in, or relevant to, the practice of
architecture in subjects relating to health, safety, and welfare
during the preceding two years, as determined by the board. The
coursework in disability access requirements specified by
Section 5600 subdivision (a) shall be applied to
the continuing education hours prescribed by the board.
(b) The board shall
(2) If the board requires continuing
education pursuant to paragraph (1), the board shall first , by
regulation, prescribe requirements relating to continuing education,
including, but not limited to, the required courses and number of
hours.
(c)
(3) The board may audit the records of a licensee to
verify the completion of any continuing education
requirements of this subdivision . A licensee shall
maintain records of completion of required continuing education
coursework for a minimum of two years from the date of license
renewal and shall make those records available to the board for
auditing upon request.