BILL ANALYSIS
AB 623
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 6, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 623 (Emmerson) - As Amended: April 13, 2009
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 11 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the California Architects Board (CAB) to
require architects to complete additional continuing education
(CE) requirements relating to health, safety, and welfare on or
after July 1, 2014, if the board determines that it is in the
interest of public health, safety, and welfare.
FISCAL EFFECT
There are no new costs associated with this legislation.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This legislation is intended to clear up ambiguity in
current law as to whether CAB has the authority to require
continuing education in the area of health, safety, and
welfare as a condition of licensure. This bill requires
California architects, as part of their continuing education
requirements, to include subjects affecting the health, safety
and welfare of the public as a condition of licensure, if CAB
determines it is in the public's interest.
The author proposes delaying implementation of this
requirement until July 1, 2014 because a former version of the
bill required CAB to provide continuing education on this
issue and the board felt that a delay would provide them with
time to learn from recently enacted legislation that requires
continuing education on accessibility. However, the current
version of the bill is permissive and simply authorizes CAB to
require continuing education in the area of health, safety,
and welfare if they determine it is necessary and in the
AB 623
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public's interest.
2)Proposed Amendment . Given the permissiveness of the
legislation, the author may want to consider removing the
delayed implementation date from this bill.
3)Background . CAB establishes regulations for the examination
and licensing of the profession of architecture in California,
which today numbers approximately 22,000 licensed architects
and approximately 11,000 candidates who are in the process of
meeting examination and licensure requirements.
4)Related Legislation . AB 1145 (Price) doubles the maximum fee
for the renewal of an architect's license from the current
level of $200 to $400. That bill is currently pending before
this committee.
SB 1608 (Corbett; Chapter 549, Statutes of 2008 requires, as a
condition of license renewal, that an architect complete
coursework regarding disability access requirements, as
specified, and certify to the CAB, as part of the license
renewal process, completion of the coursework prior to
renewing their license.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081