AB 181

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law provides for the practice of accountancy by the California Board of Accountancy. Existing law, until January 1, 2019, authorizes an individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who has a valid and current license, certificate, or permit to practice public accountancy from another state to engage in the practice of public accountancy in this state under a practice privilege without obtaining a certificate or license subject to specified requirements. Existing law provides that an accountant whose license was canceled by operation of law, after nonrenewal, as specified, may, upon application to the board and meeting specified requirements, have his or her license placed into a retired status. This bill would authorize an individual practicing public accountancy in this state under a practice privilege to be styled and known as a "certified public accountant" and use the abbreviation "C.P.A." The bill would prohibit the board from restoring that license in retired status to active or inactive status and instead would require the individual to apply for a new license in order to restore his or her license. Existing law authorizes the board to issue a certified public accountant (CPA) license to an applicant who holds a valid and unrevoked CPA license in another state, under specified conditions. This bill would require that an out-of-state applicant hold a current, active, and unrestricted CPA license in order to be issued a CPA license under this provision. (2) The Professional Engineers Act provides for the regulation and licensure of professional engineers by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. A violation of the licensing provisions of the act is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires all civil engineering plans, calculations, specifications, and reports to be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed civil engineer, as specified. Existing law requires all civil engineering plans, calculations, specifications, and reports for the construction of all public school structures to be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed architect or a licensed civil engineer who is also licensed as a structural engineer. Existing law requires all civil engineering plans, calculations, specifications, and reports for the construction of all hospitals and other medical facilities having surgery and emergency treatment areas to be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed civil engineer who is also licensed as a structural engineer. This bill would repeal the requirements that all civil engineering plans and other specified documents for construction of public school structures be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed architect or a licensed civil engineer who is also licensed as a structural engineer. The bill would also repeal the requirements that all civil engineering plans and other specified documents for construction of specified hospital and medical facilities be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed civil engineer who is also licensed as a structural engineer. (3) Existing law establishes within the Department of Consumer Affairs a State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind, which consists of 7 members appointed by the Governor. Existing law authorizes the board to issue licenses for guide dog training and instructional services. A violation of these licensing provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would also include dogs trained and provided for visually impaired persons within these licensing requirements. The bill would change reporting requirements from a calendar year to a fiscal year period and would make technical changes. (4) The Barbering and Cosmetology Act provides for the licensure and regulation, including inspection, of barbers and cosmetologists by the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires that the board consist of certain members, and authorizes the board to appoint an executive officer. Under existing law, these provisions are repealed on January 1, 2016. This bill would extend the operation of the board and the executive officer to January 1, 2020. Existing law also requires the board to conduct specified reviews and reports by various dates in the past. This bill would delete those requirements and would require the board, no later than November 1, 2018, to conduct specified reviews regarding training and examinations and report its findings to specified committees of the Legislature. The bill would require the board to establish a protocol for inspecting establishments when an inspector has difficulty understanding or communicating with the owner, manager, or employees of the establishment due to language barriers, and to evaluate the protocol every two years to ensure that it remains current. The bill would require the board to establish a Health and Safety Advisory Committee to provide the board with advice and recommendations on health and safety issues before the board. The bill would also require the board to issue regulations for a personal service permit, as defined, that, among other things, may require an applicant for a personal service permit to have proof of liability insurance, and would authorize fees for the issuance and renewal of a personal service permit. The bill would require the board to report to the Legislature, on or before July 1, 2017, as specified, regarding the regulatory process and the issuance of personal service permits. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. (5) Under the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Law, the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau regulates licensed funeral establishments and requires that they be operated by a licensed funeral director who is required to provide written information regarding funeral goods and services and prices to consumers. Existing law requires a funeral establishment that maintains an Internet Web site to also post that information on its Internet Web site provided by a link from the homepage. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would require that the funeral establishment's Internet Web site contain specified key words. (6) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of structural pest control operators and registered companies by the Structural Pest Control Board. The California Constitution provides that laborers of every class who have worked upon or have furnished material for a property have a lien upon that property for the value of the labor done and material furnished. The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide, by law, for the speedy and efficient enforcement of those liens. Existing law requires specified registered companies to provide notice regarding possible liens, as specified, to the owner of property prior to entering into a contract to provide work on that property. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would extend the notice requirements to all registered companies. Existing law requires a structural pest control operator to provide a report detailing the results of an inspection for wood destroying pests or organisms prior to commencing work on a contract or expressing an opinion regarding the presence or absence of wood destroying pests or organisms, to the Structural Pest Control Board, within the Department of Consumer Affairs, as specified. Existing law requires that the pest control operator deliver a copy of the report to the person requesting inspection, or designated agent, within 10 business days of the inspection. Existing law requires a pest control operator to deliver a copy of that report to the owner or the owner's agent within 10 working days of an inspection. This bill would remove the requirement that the pest control operator provide the owner of the property or the owner's agent with a copy of the report, unless the owner was the person who requested the inspection. (7) Existing law creates the California Travel and Tourism Commission and provides for the membership and meetings of the commission. This bill would specify that all meetings of the commission take place in California and would authorize commissioners to attend meetings of the commission by conference telephone or other technology. (8) This bill would make various other nonsubstantive changes. (9) Because this bill would expand the definition of a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.