GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WELCOME
TO THIS MORNING SUNSET REVIEW
OVERSIGHT HEARING, WHICH IS
BEING HELD JOINTLY BY THE
ASSEMBLY, BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE AND THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS
PROFESSIONS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. TODAY WE'LL BE
HEARING FROM FOUR ENTITIES
RESPONSIBLE FOR LICENSING OR
REGISTERING VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS
UNDER THE BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS CODE, THE BUREAU OF
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR THE STRUCTURAL
PEST CONTROL BOARD, THE TAX
EDUCATION COUNCIL AND THE
ACUPUNCTURE BOARD. FOR EACH
PORTION OF TODAY'S HEARING. WE
WILL BEGIN BY HEARING FROM
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ENTITY
UNDER REVIEW. OPEN THE
DISCUSSION UP TO QUESTIONS OF
THE TWO COMMITTEES, THEN HEAR
FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL
BE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF TWO
MINUTES PER ORGANIZATION. IN
ADDITION TO HEARING FROM THOSE
HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY WILL BE
USING A MODERATED TELEPHONE
SERVICE. THE CALLING NUMBER FOR
THIS HEARING IS 877862 8957
AGAIN. THAT WAS 877692. I'M NOT
SURE IF I DID THAT RIGHT,
87769289 AGAIN, 877692895.
ACCESS CODE 18501100. AGAIN THE
ACCESS CODE IS 1850110. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY'S
HEARING WHERE I ANTICIPATE WE
WILL HAVE A PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE
WITH THE REGULATORY ENTITIES
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO
PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND HOW WE IN
THE LEGISLATURE CAN FURTHER
EMPOWER THEM IN THE WORK THEY DO
BEFORE WE BEGIN. I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO MY SENATE COUNTERPART,
THE ESTEEMED CHAIR, ROTH. FOR
ANY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. UH,
HIT THE LIKE BUTTON. THERE WE GO
. THANK YOU. MR CHAIR. THANKS
FOR HOSTING US LOOK FORWARD TO
THE HEARING. I HOPE THAT THAT
BREVITY IS A SIGN OF THINGS TO
COME FOR THIS HEARING. I
APPRECIATE THAT SHERIFF BROTH.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE WILL
BEGIN WITH OUR FIRST PANEL.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUREAU OF
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. UM COME ON
UP. LET ME JUST FIND MY. AND I
BELIEVE TESTIFYING WITH US TODAY
ARE, OF COURSE. KIMBERLY
KIRCHMEIER, DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
AND PATRICK, I APOLOGIZE.
PATRICK DORIS. DORI. OR A BUREAU
CHIEF. READY WHEN YOU ARE. I
THINK YOU MIGHT JUST NEED TO
PRESS THE MICROPHONE BUTTON.
THERE WE GO. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME START OVER.
I'M GOOD MORNING CHAIR BERMAN,
CHAIR, WRATH AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME
BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE
BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR,
ALSO KNOWN AS BAR I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR
THEIR DILIGENT PREPARATION FOR
THIS HEARING. THE MATERIALS ARE
VERY WELL WRITTEN. SINCE 1972.
THE BUREAU HAS BEEN MEDIATING
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
INVESTIGATING VIOLATIONS AND
INITIATING DISCIPLINARY ACTION
AGAINST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
DEALERS AND BREAKING LAMPS,
STATIONS AND ADJUSTERS WHO FELL
TO COMPLY WITH THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR ACT. THE BUREAU ALSO
ADMINISTERS THE SMOG CHECK
PROGRAM AND THE CONSUMER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT BOTH
HELP IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND
REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS FROM AIR
POLLUTION IN CALIFORNIA. I'M
HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SINCE ITS
LAST SUNSET REVIEW, THE BUREAU
IMPLEMENTED NEW ELECTRONIC
PROCESSES TO STREAMLINE
APPLICATION PROCESSING AND
INITIATED A COMPREHENSIVE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
MODERNIZATION PROJECT TO FURTHER
IMPROVE PROCESSING TIMES.
ADDITIONALLY THE BUREAU NOW HAS
A DEDICATED WEB PAGE PROVIDING
INFORMATION ON THE LICENSING
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MILITARY
MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
SHARES. MILITARY INFORMATION IN
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES. SOCIAL
MEDIA MESSAGES AND INFORMATIONAL
INSERTS INCLUDED WITH MAILED
RENEWAL NOTICES TO LICENSES. THE
BUREAU CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE
ITS ENFORCEMENT WORKLOAD,
INCLUDING AN INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
MOST SIGNIFICANTLY ACTIONS
RESULTING IN REVOCATION OR
PROBATION. THE BUREAU IS ALSO AN
ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE
GOVERNOR'S JOINT ENFORCEMENT,
STRIKEFORCE AND PARTNERS WITH
OTHER AGENCIES TO PERFORM
COMPLIANCE SWEEPS, THE BUREAU
CONTINUOUSLY MONITORS ONLINE
LISTINGS AND SETS UP COVERT
STING OPERATIONS TO ENGAGE
UNLICENSED OPERATORS AND TAKES
APPROPRIATE ACTION. THESE ARE
JUST A FEW OF THE STRIDES THE
BUREAU HAS MADE SINCE THE LAST
SUNSET REVIEW HERE WITH ME TO
TALK ABOUT THE BUREAU AND TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS IS
BUREAU CHIEF PATRICK DORA, AND
HE WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
ON THE PROGRESS OF THE BUREAU.
THANK YOU. DIRECTOR KIRK MAYOR,
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE CHAIRS
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM
PATRICK DERAY. CHIEF OF THE
BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REPRESENT THE BUREAU TODAY. AND
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE TO THE COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR THEIR GUIDANCE. IN
COLLABORATION IN THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. ALONG WITH
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT
DIRECTOR KIRK MEYER MENTIONED.
THE BUREAU HAS ALSO MADE
SIGNIFICANT ENHANCEMENTS TO HELP
CONSUMERS MAKE MORE INFORMED
DECISIONS ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE
OF REPAIR OF THEIR VEHICLES.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A MOBILE
FRIENDLY AUTO SHOP LOCATOR
APPLICATION THAT ALLOWS
CONSUMERS TO PERFORM LOCATION
AND SERVICE BASED SEARCHES OF
LICENSED AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
DEALERS. REGULATIONS ALSO WERE
ADOPTED TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC
ESTIMATES AND CONSUMER
AUTHORIZATION OF AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIRS THROUGH EMAIL. AND TEXT
FORMATS, BRINGING THIS INDUSTRY
AND THE BUREAUS REGULATION INTO
THE 21ST CENTURY. AND SAFETY
RECALL INFORMATION WAS ADDED TO
THE VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT
THAT STATIONS MUST PROVIDE TO
CONSUMERS AFTER EVERY SMALL
CHECK INSPECTION. THE BUREAU
CONTINUES TO WORK WITH VARIOUS
STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN OUR
REGULATORY PROGRAMS TO BETTER
SERVE CONSUMERS AND LICENSES.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF
A COMPREHENSIVE VEHICLE SAFETY
SYSTEMS INSPECTION PROGRAM. AND
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE FORMAL
DISCIPLINE PROCESS, INCLUDING
ELECTRONIC TRANSMITTAL. OF CASES
TO THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL. ADDITIONALLY THE BUREAU
HAS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL NEW
ISSUES. THAT WE HOPE TO
COLLABORATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE
AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. TODAY I LOOK
FORWARD TO RESPONDING TO
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE AND
DISCUSSING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
PROVIDED IN THE BACKGROUND
PAPER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DIRECTOR UM SO WITH THAT I WANT
TO OPEN IT UP TO TWO COLLEAGUES
ON THE COMMITTEE IF ANYBODY HAS
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS UM,
FOR SORRY FOR EITHER THE
DIRECTOR OR THE BUREAU CHIEF.
SURE. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
, MR CHAIR WITH RESPECT TO
MILITARY APPLICANTS. NOTICE THE
ANALYSIS SAID. THAT INDICATES
THAT THE BOARD IS NOT RECEIVED
ANY REQUESTS OR WHAT WAVE
RENEWAL FEES ARE REQUIREMENTS
FOR LICENSEE OR REGISTERED. ALL
THE ACTIVE DUTY DO WE NOTIFY
APPLICANTS OF THE WAIVER
OPPORTUNITY WE DO. THAT'S THAT'S
PART OF OUR APPLICATION PROCESS.
PERFECT. I BELIEVE CHIEF DORY
ALSO THAT YOU INCLUDE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL'S
IN THE RENO NOTICES MAILED OUT
TO LICENSES. THAT'S ALSO
CORRECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
WITH RESPECT TO THE COLLECTION
OF DATA ON EXAM PASS RATES.
MAYBE YOU MENTIONED THAT AND I
MISSED IT BECAUSE I WAS DOING
SOMETHING ELSE COULD YOU COVER
THAT FOR US? DATA ON EXAM PASS
RATES. YOU NOTICED IN OUR IN THE
ANALYSIS, THE BACKGROUND PAPER.
DURING A PRAYER. SUNSET REVIEW
THOSE HERE AT THE TIME.
QUESTIONED YOUR ABILITY TO ADD
TO ANALYZE THE EFFICACY OF YOUR
EXAMS WITHOUT COLLECTING DATA ON
EXAM PASS RATES. AND SUGGESTED
THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER
THAT. AS THAT HAPPENED, AND IF
NOT, WHY NOT? WE HAVE NOT HAD A
CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE PAST RATES
OF OUR THREE LICENSES THAT
REQUIRE AN EXAMINATION FOR SMOG
CHECK INSPECTORS AND REPAIR
TECHNICIANS AND THEN LAMP AND
BRAKE ADJUSTERS. THAT IS
SOMETHING HAVING SEEN THAT IN
THE, UM THIS YEAR'S REPORT. UH
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION WE HAVE
REACHED OUT TO OUR AND WILL BE
ACTUALLY REACHING OUT TO OUR
DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF
PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION
SERVICES TO LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT
BE ABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S
EXAM. CONTRACTOR LOOK AT PAST
RATES. PERFECT THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ELSE ON THE
COMMITTEE. JUST JUST ONE
QUESTION. I KNOW. ISSUE NUMBER
SEVEN, UH, HIGHLIGHTS STORAGE
FEES. UH AND SOME OF THE
COMPLICATIONS AROUND THIS ISSUE
. ARE THERE ANY POSSIBILITIES IN
YOUR MIND FOR EXPANDING
OVERSIGHT OVER OVER TOWING, UH,
IN STORAGE PEAS. GOING IN
STORAGE FEES IS PROBABLY AN
ISSUE THAT'S BETTER LESS TO
CONSUMER AND TOWING INDUSTRY
GROUPS AS IT RELATES TO STORAGE
FEES. AH! THAT OCCUR AS A RESULT
OF AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
TRANSACTION THAT HASN'T YET BEEN
ENTERED INTO OR AN AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR TRANSACTION THAT'S BEEN
COMPLETED AND THEN THE VEHICLE
SITS AND STORAGE FEES ARE BECOME
A PART OF THE TRANSACTION. THAT
IS SOMETHING I THINK NATURALLY
FITS WITHIN THE BUREAU'S
JURISDICTION. THERE IS ONE
CAVEAT TO THAT, THOUGH THE
STORAGE FEE LAWS ARE LAID OUT IN
THE VEHICLE CODE, AND THE BUREAU
DOES NOT HAVE SPECIFIC AUTHORITY
OR JURISDICTION IN THE VEHICLE
CODE, THE ONLY ENFORCEMENT AS IT
RELATES TO, UM, OUR EFFORTS TO
BRING, UM. ANY JUSTICE TO ANY
OUTLANDISH FEES THAT MIGHT BE
CHARGED WOULD BE A LINK TO OUR
STATUTORY AUTHORITY AS LAID OUT.
IN THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
CODE, NAMELY FRAUD, AWESOME,
MISLEADING STATEMENTS AND THOSE
TYPES OF SERIOUS ACTIONS. UM. WE
DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORKING
WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
COMMITTEES ON POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
TO THIS ISSUE. IN RESPONSE TO
THAT WE WERE GETTING A, UM, A
BUNCH OF. CONCERNS RAISED TO US
ABOUT SOME OF THE STORAGE FEE
ISSUES LAID OUT, UM. IN THE IN
THE VEHICLE CODE HAS BROUGHT TO
US BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
AND WE OFFERED TO SET UP LAST
YEAR IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, A
STORAGE A DEDICATED EMAIL
ACCOUNT. SO THAT THEY COULD
REFER ISSUES TO US TO LOOK AT AS
IT RELATES TO THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR DEALERS AND THEIR
TRANSACTIONS WITH CONSUMERS. SO
WE'VE BEEN, UM MONITORING THAT
EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE BETTER
PART OF A YEAR AND RECEIVED
CLOSE TO 300. REFERRALS FROM THE
INJURED INSURANCE INDUSTRY. MANY
OF THOSE ARE MEDIATED WITH THE
BUREAU'S, UM WOW INVESTIGATORS
TO BRING RELIEF BACK TO, UM
EITHER THE INSURANCE COMPANY
ITSELF, WHICH TRANSLATES TO
REDUCE FEES. UM EXCUSE ME
INCREASED PAYOUTS TO CONSUMERS
WHO ARE LOOKING TO, UM, HAVE
THAT VEHICLE. UM UM, REPAIRED AT
THE FULL AMOUNT. GREAT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I'M GONNA GO
SENATOR ONE HOB CENTER, ASHBY
BACK TO THE CHAIR. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO PICK IT BACK OFF OF
THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS IN REGARDS
TO TOWING. UH, SO ABOUT TWO
WEEKS AGO, UH, ONE OF MY
VEHICLES WAS STOLEN AND
EVENTUALLY FOUND AFTER A BUNCH
OF PAPERWORK WITH, UM POLICE AND
SO FORTH. IT WAS TOWED FROM
WHEREVER IT WAS FOUND. UM AND
THE FEE FOR THE TOWING WAS $700.
UM ONE IN PARTICULAR TOWING
FEES. THEY TEND TO START TO ADD
UP. UH DAY OVER DAY, EVEN 15
MINUTES OF STORAGE. UM IS $500
IN IN THE AREA IN PARTICULAR. UM
AND IT CAN BANKRUPT A FAMILY.
RIGHT ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A
WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, OR THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE THEIR
VEHICLE THAT EVENING, OR
WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, UM,
AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A
CAP ON THESE DAILY $500 STORAGE
FEES, IF NOT MORE THAN $500.
THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON
AROUND THIS, UM AND AT THE SAME
TIME WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND
WE SEE A ARE GROWING SENIOR
POPULATION THAT'S ON A FIXED
INCOME THAT THEIR VEHICLE COULD
BE, UM LET'S SAY AN OLDER
VEHICLE AND RELIABLE VEHICLE,
WHATEVER. AND IT GETS PICKED UP
. UH DO WE HAVE ANY PROGRAMS OR
PLAN ON INCENTIVIZING OR HELPING
OUT THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES IN
THIS REGARD? WITH THE VISAS THAT
RELATES TO STONE TOWING CHARGES
, FEES AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WITH
THE GROWING HOUSING AND LACK OF
PARKING FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND
SO FORTH. I JUST SEE THIS AS A
GROWING PROBLEM AND I JUST WANT
TO SEE IF THERE'S ARE WE BEING
PROACTIVE OF, YOU KNOW,
ATTENDING TO OUR FIXED INCOME OR
LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS. THE
ONLY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THAT
ADDRESSES THAT STATUTORILY
SPEAKING IS OUR CONSUMER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS
SPECIFICALLY SPECIFICALLY
LOOKING AT HELPING INDIVIDUALS
WITH REPAIRS OR POSSIBLY
RETIRING A VEHICLE THAT THAT IS
UNABLE TO PASS A SMALL CHECK
INSPECTION AS IT RELATES TO
TOWING CHARGES. AS I MENTIONED
WITH THE BUREAU DOESN'T HAVE
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY TO REGULATE
TOTAL TRUCKS AND TOWING, UM UM
TRANSACTIONS, BUT WE ALWAYS
ENCOURAGE CONSUMER WHO THINKS
THERE MIGHT BE A LINK TO AN
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR DEALER. UH TO
FILE A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WITH
US AND WE WILL INVESTIGATE IT TO
THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES. OKAY?
THANK YOU, SENATOR. ASH TREE.
THANK YOU IN THE. PRIOR SUNSETS
DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT WERE
BROUGHT FORWARD PRIOR ISSUE
NUMBER FIVE. WE CALL THAT BREEZY
OR JUST BREEZE? GREAT, OKAY. SO
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS QUITE A BIT
OF EFFORT PUT INTO TRYING TO
MAKE IT WORK, AND IT DIDN'T AND
I SEE THAT THE FINAL SENTENCE IN
THAT PARAGRAPH IS THAT THE
LICENSING PORTION OF THAT IS
STILL EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED
THIS YEAR. SO I JUST WANTED TO
ASK FOR A LITTLE UPDATE ON THAT
PROGRAM. HOW MUCH OF IT HAVE WE
BEEN ABLE TO SALVAGE HOW MUCH OF
THE PEOPLE'S EXPENSES THAT WENT
INTO MAKING THAT WORK ARE
TURNING INTO A BENEFIT FOR THEM
, AND ARE WE SURE THAT AS WE
CONTINUE TO RELY ON THAT EVEN IN
THIS YEAR THAT WE THINK IT'S
GOING TO PRODUCE WHAT WE WHAT WE
WANTED TO PRODUCE OR THE PEOPLE.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I'LL
START AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO THE DIRECTOR OF BREEZE WAS
INITIALLY LAID OUT IN THREE
PHASES. THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR WITH SEVERAL OTHER
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
CLIENTS. WE'RE SLATED FOR THE
THIRD AND FINAL PHASE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION. THAT PROJECT
AFTER THE FIRST TWO PHASES WAS
CANCELED WITH RESPECT TO THE
PARTIES, THE ENTITIES IN THAT
THIRD PHASE, BUT WE WERE STILL
EXPECTED TO. LOOK AT MODERNIZING
OUR LICENSING AND ENFORCEMENT.
UM SYSTEMS, THE LEGACY SYSTEMS
THAT DATE BACK TO THE 19 SIXTIES
. I BELIEVE, UM, WE HAVE
UNDERTAKEN THAT TASK. WE ARE
ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
PROJECT CALLED OUR ENFORCEMENT
LICENSING MODERNIZATION EFFORT
THAT WILL LOOK TO UM LEVERAGE
SOME OF THE SUCCESSES OF SOME OF
THE OTHER PHASE THREE CLIENTS
WHO WERE UNABLE. UM THERE'S A AT
LEAST TWO COHORTS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HAVE ALREADY INITIATED A
MODERNIZATION EFFORT. HOURS WILL
BE SPLIT INTO TWO PHASES ARE
LICENSING PHASE WILL BE ROLLED
OUT THIS YEAR AND THEN OUR
ENFORCEMENT. EFFORT TO MODERNIZE
THAT LEGACY SYSTEM WILL BE DONE
IN THE IN THE COMING, UM, COMING
MONTHS AND YEARS. PROBABLY AT
LEAST A YEAR AWAY BEFORE WE GET
TO UNDERTAKE THAT EFFORT. ONE
QUICK FOLLOW UP. DO YOU HAVE ANY
IDEA HOW MUCH WE'VE EXPENDED ON
THAT PROGRAM? ON OUR ENFORCEMENT
LICENSING MONETIZATION ON SET ON
ALL THREE PHASES. OH, ON THE
BREEZE PROJECT ALONE. YES
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE PRIOR
ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT WE STILL
PAID INTO IT AFTER CORRECT AFTER
IT CAME KIND OF APART, CORRECT
THE BUREAU. UH THROUGH THE
PROGRAM TO OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS EXPENDED
ROUGHLY 1.6 MILLION OVER ABOUT
EIGHT FISCAL YEARS. WE NO LONGER
PAY INTO BREEZE AS A 2018 2019
THAT SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF, UM
EFFORTS, HOWEVER, THAT WE
PARTICIPATE IN, UM ARE. THERE'S
A DATA REPORTING TOOL. THERE'S A
LICENSED SEARCH THAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS ROLLED OUT FOR ALL
BOARDS AND BUREAUS. UM SO THAT
HAS BEEN A BENEFIT TO THE BUREAU
OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND SENATOR
. I JUST LIKE TO ADD. ACTUALLY
IT WASN'T A FAILED PROJECT. IT
JUST DIDN'T MOVE TO RELEASE
THREE. BUT WE DO HAVE 18 WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER
AFFAIRS. WE HAVE 36 DIFFERENT
BOARDS AND BUREAUS, AND WE HAVE
18 OF THEM THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN
THE BRIEF SYSTEM. AND
FUNCTIONING. THEY USE LICENSING
ENFORCEMENT, UM AND AS UM CHIEF
DERAY SAID THE MONEY THAT THE
RELEASE THREE ENTITIES DID PAY
IN. IT DID GO TO A DATA.
BASICALLY A DATA WAREHOUSE THAT
WAS BUILT THAT DOES INCLUDE
THOSE RELEASED THREE BOARDS AS
WELL AS A LICENSED SEARCH SO YOU
CAN GO IN AND YOU CAN SEARCH
WITHIN D. C A. AND YOU CAN JUST
PUT IN A NAME AND IT WILL GIVE
YOU WHATEVER BOARD THAT THAT
INDIVIDUALS LICENSED WITHIN AND
EVEN MULTIPLE BOARDS IF THEY
WERE LICENSE WITH MULTIPLE
BOARDS. SO THOSE ARE THINGS AND
THEN WE ALSO JUST WE LEARNED SO
MUCH FROM THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE
MADE LIKE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
MANAGEMENT. WE KNEW THAT THAT
NEEDED TO BE MORE INCORPORATED
SO THAT FUNDING WAS ABLE TO ALSO
FUND THAT FOR THE RELEASE THREE
BOARDS, SO WE LEARNED SO MANY
LESSONS FROM THE PROJECT. I
BELIEVE YOU HAD TO FOLLOW UP.
JUST A QUESTION I NEGLECTED TO
ASK HAS TO DO WITH ISSUE NUMBER
10. I NOTE IN THE BACKGROUND OR
IT TALKS ABOUT UNLICENSED
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR REFERRAL
BUSINESSES. AS BEING A NEW
ISSUE. PERHAPS YOU COULD EXPLAIN
THAT AND WHAT THE SOLUTION IS.
WE WILL HAVE. SOME INSTANCES
WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
COMPANIES WHO HAVE, UM. SET UP
THEIRSELVES AS ALMOST AS AN
ANGIE'S LIST TYPE OF SERVICE,
WHERE THEY WILL COLLECT THE FEES
UPFRONT FOR THE ENTIRE
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR TRANSACTION.
MHM AND THEN THEY'LL FORM THAT
OUT OR REFER THAT TO SOMEONE
HOPEFULLY IN THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR INDUSTRY THAT'S LICENSED
AS AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR DEALER
TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES PERFORMED
ON THE VEHICLE. OFTENTIMES
HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER IS LOST AS
TO IF THEY WANT RECOURSES TO AN
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR TRANSACTION
THAT'S GONE SIDEWAYS. I'LL GO TO
THE PERSON THAT DID THE REPAIRS
AND THEY'LL SAY I DIDN'T COLLECT
THE FEES GO BACK TO THE ENTITY
THAT YOU PAID TO. THEN THEY'LL
HAVE TROUBLE LOCATING THOSE
INDIVIDUALS OR THAT THOSE
COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP
IN THAT MANNER SO WE ARE AH,
WRESTLING WITH HOW TO, UM.
IMPROVE THE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT
OF THOSE OF THOSE ENTITIES. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
COMMITTEE'S ON POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS. WELL CORRECT ME IN
THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENTS IF
YOU'RE DOING AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
OR YOU'RE SEEKING AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR. THERE'S A THERE'S A
SERIES OF DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE TO
BE SIGNED. ARE THERE NOT THEIR
ESTIMATES AND THE REST? YES.
BEFORE YOU COLLECT MONEY. YES
YOU'RE SAYING IS IN THIS
UNLICENSED AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
REFERRAL BUSINESS, THE
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR REFERRAL
ENTITY IS COLLECTING MONEY FOR
THE REPAIR. YES, THEY ARE.
WITHOUT SIGNING ANYTHING. I, IN
MANY CASES, THAT IS THE CASE.
YES LOCATING THEM IS A CHALLENGE
FOR US WHEN WE GO TO FIND THAT
AND HAVE A DISCUSSION TO MEDIATE
A CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT AS AN
UNLICENSED ACTIVITY, WE WILL BE,
UM STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO
LOCATE SOMEONE WHO CAN WHO WE
CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
THAT WITH THEM AND BRING THEM
INTO THE CLUB TO HAVE THEM
REGISTERED, WHETHER OTHERS UP
HERE WHO HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS AND CERTAINLY I DO,
BUT WHY NOT? WHY NOT PROHIBIT IN
THE UNLICENSED AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
REFERRAL. PROCESS. OR IN THE
ALTERNATIVE SUB SUBJECT THAT
PROCESS TO SOME FORM OF
REGULATION. AYE. I CONCUR
WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THAT'S UH,
SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT. AS
FAR AS STRENGTHENING THE
STATUTORY AUTHORITY EITHER
PROHIBIT THOSE KINDS OF TRENDS
TRANSACTIONS. THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF BUSINESS MODELS. I THINK THAT
ARE OUT THERE WERE CONSUMERS DO
LIKE THAT TYPE OF ONLINE. UM NOT
YOUR STANDARD BRICK AND MORTAR,
UM, OPERATION TO BE ABLE. TO
ENGAGE IN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
TRANSACTION WITH SOMEONE
REFERRAL IS ONE THING BUT
REFERRAL AND COLLECTING THE
MONEY FOR THE REPAIR AND THEN
CONTRACTING WITH A REPAIR
FACILITY TO DO IT. I ASSUME AT
SOME POINT, THE CUSTOMER HAS TO
INTERFACE WITH THE REPAIR
FACILITY. YOU'RE DROPPING A CAR
OFF AND FORMS ARE SIGNED, RIGHT
? WELL SOMETIMES THIS IS JUST
DONE AT YOUR PLACE OF
CONVENIENCE TO YOU AT YOUR HOME
OR AT YOUR, UM OR TO OUR OFFICE
IN YOUR IN YOUR PARKING LOT AT
YOUR OFFICE FOR PERHAPS, UM,
YEAH, THESE ARE THESE ARE IN
THESE MOBILE OPERATIONS. UM ARE
ARE A CHALLENGE. WELL WE
CERTAINLY WANT TO RESPOND TO THE
FACT THAT WE'RE IN THE 21ST
CENTURY, BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO
MAKE CHANGES. SO PERHAPS AS I
SAID THE OTHER DAY. LOOK AT HIS
SPLIT. WE FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE
AND SEE WHAT WE NEED TO
INCORPORATE IN. IN THE SUNSET
VEHICLES THAT MY COLLEAGUE. THE
CHAIR IS GRAPPLING WITH TODAY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT DIALOGUE AND
THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. I KNOW WE'VE HAD
SOME NEW COLLEAGUES JOIN US
ANYBODY ELSE WITH ANY QUESTIONS?
OH, YES. PLEASE SEND HER
ALVARADO GIL. THIS ONE. THERE
YOU GO. HELLO HI. HOW ARE YOU?
UM THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE
TODAY AND EDUCATING US ON SOME
OF THESE ISSUES. UM MY QUESTION
IS IN REGARDS TO ISSUE NUMBER 11
AND I'M LOOKING AT THE SMOG
CHECK INSPECTION OF MODEL YEARS
1976 TO 1995 VEHICLES. AND I'D
LIKE TO SHARE THAT THE, UM THE
CLASSIC CAR CULTURE OR THE LOW
RIDING CULTURE IS VERY MUCH A
STAPLE OF THE HISTORY OF
CALIFORNIA AND MANY TIMES THESE
ARE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE MADE
FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER,
UM THEY ARE LINKED TO BUSINESSES
TO, UH TO FAMILY HERITAGE. TWO
GENEALOGIES AND I SEE THE
IMPEDIMENT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
GET A SMOG OR NOT BEING ABLE TO
GET REGISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO
BRING THESE VEHICLES ONTO THE
ROAD. UM YOU YOU'LL SEE THEM A
LOT IN MY DISTRICT AND A LOT OF
OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AS PART OF
OUR PARADES ARE UM, OUR HOLIDAY
CELEBRATIONS AND I'M WONDERING,
UM, IN TERMS OF THIS ISSUE, UM
WHAT CAN WE DO MORE WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE MORE TO HELP TO
SUPPORT THE CULTURE OF CLASSIC
CAR RENOVATIONS IN CLASSIC
CLASSIC CAR CELEBRATIONS IN THE
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA? THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. VERY
GOOD ONE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD
THAT MANY OF THE STAFF AT THE
BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR THEY
COME FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
INDUSTRY IS CERTAINLY IN OUR
INVESTIGATIVE CLASSIFICATIONS.
UH THEY ARE CLASSIC CAR
ENTHUSIASTS AS WELL THAT MANY OF
THEM ARE RESTORING VEHICLES AND
WORKING ON THE GO AROUND THE
BUILDING AND ASK HOW WAS YOUR
WEEKEND? WHAT DID YOU DO? WORKED
ON A CAR? YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. UM, THERE
IS, UM UM. AS IT RELATES TO THE
SMOG CHECK PROGRAM, EVERYTHING
OLDER THAN 1976 MODEL YEAR IS
EXEMPT FROM THE SMOG CHECK
PROGRAM THAT'S LAID OUT CLEARLY
IN STATUTE, AND THEN THERE'S A
PROCESS FOR ANYTHING IN THE THAT
SUBJECT TO THE PROGRAM TO BE
ABLE TO, UM GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF HAVING THAT VEHICLE.
DESIGNATED A CLASSIC CAR FOR THE
PURPOSES OF GETTING A MUCH
STREAMLINED. AND SCALED BACK
INSPECTION WHERE A. VISUAL
INSPECTION OF NORMALLY REQUIRED
VISUAL. UM, EXCUSE ME, EMISSIONS
CONTROL COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS
WOULD NOT BE UNDERTAKEN. OR
PERHAPS WHY THERE WOULD BE A
PROCESS FOR ACCEPTING SOME OF
THOSE PARTS FROM THE INSPECTION
PROCESS. UM AS FAR AS PROMOTING
THAT WE DO HAVE INFORMATION
AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT
THAT PROCESS. THERE IS A FAIRLY
EXTENSIVE SET OF LAWS. STREWN
ABOUT THROUGH THE. THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY CODE, THE VEHICLE
CODE AND MAYBE EVEN ONE OTHER
CODE THAT I MAY BE, UH, MISSING
AND LEAVING OUT. UH AND SOME OF
THAT IS CHALLENGING TO WORK
THROUGH, BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO
GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO
CONSUMERS SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT
THERE IS A PROCESS MOST OF THE
TIMES IT DOES START WITH A, UH,
AN APPLICATION PROCESS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. I
LOVE QUESTION. SO UM, MY EVER 15
MONTH OLD GRANDSON AND HE'S YOU
KNOW, HE'S GOT HIS COZY COUPE.
THAT'S HIS FIRST CAR, AND THE
GOOD THING IS, IT DOESN'T
REQUIRE A SMOG CHECK. BUT AS YOU
CAN IMAGINE, UM YOU KNOW
CULTURALLY IT IS, UH. IT IS PART
OF CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY TO BE
ABLE TO PASS ON THOSE CARS TO
OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN
AND OFTEN TIMES YOU KNOW, WE'RE
MOVING INTO THIS ELECTRONIC AGE,
REMOVING INTO COMPUTERIZED CAR
CHIPS, AND SO A LOT OF OUR SMOG
CENTERS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU
INPUT A CODE, AND THE COMPUTER
TELLS YOU EVERYTHING RIGHT? BUT
THERE'S STILL THIS, UM HERITAGE
PRESERVATION OF GOOD OLD
FASHIONED GREECE AND WRENCHING
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THEY ARE.
THERE ARE CENTERS OR THERE'S AN
THERE'S AN OPTION FOR THOSE OF
US WHO CONTINUE TO GLORIFY THE
GREASE AND WRENCHING OF
AUTOMOTIVE, THE AUTOMOTIVE
INDUSTRY AND THOSE THOSE
HERITAGE VEHICLES EVEN COMING
INTO 1976 AND ABOVE CAUSE THAT'S
KIND OF MY AGE GROUP AND I STILL
FEEL LIKE I'M A CLOWN. ASIC AGE.
UM BUT THERE ARE THOSE VEHICLES
THAT THAT THAT ARE PRESERVED
FROM FAMILY TO FAMILY THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE STILL WITHIN
THE ROTATION OF BEING ABLE TO BE
ON THE ROAD. YOU KNOW, I THINK
OF MY FIRST CAR WAS 87 SUZUKI
SAMURAI THAT I BOUGHT FOR $800
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I COULD
AFFORD THEN BUT I HAD TO FIX IT
UP TO MAKE SURE IT WAS WORTHY OF
THE ROAD, AND YOU KNOW THAT
STORY RESONATES OVER AND OVER
AGAIN WITH FAMILIES, MIDDLE
INCOME FAMILIES WORKING INCOME
FAMILIES THAT REALLY JUST WANT
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT THAT
GIFT, UM TO THEIR CHILDREN AS
THEY AGE INTO THE DRIVING AGE.
SO, UM, I HOPE THAT AS YOU LOOK
FOR SOLUTIONS THAT THERE'S
AUTOMOTIVE CENTERS SMOG CENTERS
THAT ARE TAILORED TOWARDS THESE
CLASSIC CARS, EVEN ABOVE 1976
BECAUSE DOES THAT'S YOU KNOW TO
ME? IT STILL FEELS LIKE THAT'S A
CLASSIC AGE IF YOU'VE GOT A 7 19
SEVENTIES OR EIGHTIES VEHICLE
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND
SENATOR, IF I CAN JUST ADD AND
PAT YOU CAN ADD ON THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT
, IS TRYING TO PRODUCE SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, WHERE THERE WOULD BE
A LOCATION STATEWIDE THAT WOULD
BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE SENDER.
LAST CALL QUESTIONS. COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES, SENATOR SMALL
EQUIVALENCE. GOOD MORNING. UH I
ALSO HAD A SUZUKI SAMURAI. SO I
WAS LIKE, OKAY, REMEMBER THAT
THAT VERY CUTE JEEP, UM I
APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T HEAR. UM. I
HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WORKFORCE
AND TRAINING IN WANTED TO HEAR A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, AND
UM I COME FROM A OBVIOUSLY A
VERY TRAFFIC CAR. HEAVY DISTRICT
. UM LOTS OF RESIDENTS GOING TO
SO MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS OF A
HUGE COUNTY. AND UM, WE KNOW
THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO
BE TRANSITIONING SOON. UH HUH.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY RESIDENT OF OUR DISTRICT
UM, WHETHER THEY BE IN SOUTH
CENTRAL SKID ROW OR IN
WESTCHESTER, SANTA MONICA MARVIS
TO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTRICAL
VEHICLE SPACE. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT
HOW YOU ALL ARE THINKING ABOUT
WORKFORCE AND THE WAYS IN WHICH
YOUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP THE
CURRENT UM, OWN BUSINESS OWNERS
AND PRACTITIONERS IN YOUR FIELD
ARE PREPARING FOR THAT SHIFT. I
LOOKED THROUGH SOME OF THE
MATERIALS AND ISSUES. I DID NOT
SEE ANYTHING THAT SPOKE TO ME
AND THAT WAY. UM I'M CURIOUS
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE AS THE STATE
IS INVESTING, AND WE'RE AT THIS
CROSSROADS CURIOUS. HOW IS THE
INDUSTRY REALLY FOCUSING ON
MAKING SURE THAT OUR AUTOMOTIVE
AND PARTICULARLY OUR REPAIR AND
MAINTENANCE SECTORS ARE READY
FOR THIS SHIFT? AND THAT
EVERYONE, PARTICULARLY THOSE
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES,
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LIMITED
ACCESS TO WORKFORCE TRAINING AND
PATHWAYS. UM HOW ARE YOU ALL
PREPARING FOR THAT AND PREPARING
THEM? WE PARTICIPATE WITH AND
HOST AN ADVISORY GROUP THAT HAS
A NUMBER OF AUTO REPAIR
REPRESENT TRADE ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTATIVES ON THERE WE
BRING, UM TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
WE MEET QUARTERLY PERIODIC
DISCUSSIONS WITH EDUCATORS, TOO.
UM HAVE A FRANK DISCUSSION ABOUT
HOW TO PREPARE OUR. OUR MARKET,
UH, PLACE AND OUR OUR LABOR
FORCE FOR THE CHANGING AH!
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR INDUSTRY.
THERE'S TREMENDOUS ADVANCEMENTS
IN TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS THAT
ARE BEING MADE EVERY DAY. UM WE
OURSELVES ARE PREPARING FOR, UH,
ADVANCED. DRIVER ASSISTANCE
SYSTEMS THAT ARE ON VEHICLES AND
HELPING WITH LANE DEPARTURE
TECHNOLOGY AND REAR VIEW MIRROR
AND OTHER AH UM UM. PROTECTIVE
SAFETY MEASURES THAT ARE ON THE
VEHICLE TO ENSURE CONSUMERS ARE
SAFE. UM WE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE
AMOUNT OF TRAINING JUST RECENTLY
WITH OUR OWN STAFF, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE'D LIKE TO
SHARE WITH, UM, THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR INDUSTRY. I CAN'T SPEAK
TO SPECIFIC INITIATIVES BEING
UNDERTAKEN BY THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR INDUSTRY ITSELF. SOME OF
OUR AH, PARTICIPANTS WHO MIGHT
BE IN THE ROOM TODAY,
REPRESENTING THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR INDUSTRY COULD ELABORATE
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT. I DO
KNOW THAT WE WHEN ASKED TO COME
SPEAK AT HIGH SCHOOLS. COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, PRIVATE, EDUCATIONAL,
UM. PROVIDERS SUCH AS YOU KNOW,
UNITED TECHNICAL INSTITUTE JUST
UP THE ROAD HERE OFF OF HIGHWAY
80. WE WILL GO AND HAVE
DISCUSSIONS AND SPEAK TO
GRADUATING CLASSES. WE WILL
SPEAK TO, UH, CLASSES WHERE THE
INSTRUCTOR IS INVITED US TO
PARTICIPATE. UM WE ALSO HAVE, UM
, SPONSORED A NUMBER OF GRANTS
AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR THE
. FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND, UM,
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE
LOOKING TO UM UM, GET MORE
PEOPLE INTO THIS AND EXCITED
ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY. SO UH, I
KNOW THAT SO BARRED. YOU ALL
ACTUALLY CONDUCT WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND YOU
SPONSOR WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING
AND EDUCATION ON THE LICENSING
REQUIREMENTS. YOU ALSO DO A CARS
FOR SCHOOL PROGRAM WHERE YOU
DONATE YEAH, THOSE THOSE
VEHICLES. I APPRECIATE THAT
THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION WITHIN
THE SECTOR ABOUT THIS. UM I'M
JUST CURIOUS. HOW DO YOU
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION,
PARTICULARLY FOR DISADVANTAGED
AND MINORITY GROUPS IN THESE
KINDS OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING,
AND PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES?
UM TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN
EMERGING FOCUS, THOUGH NOT AN
ORGANIZED, INTENTIONAL EFFORT,
BUT A FOCUS AROUND THE
TRANSITION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
COMING INTO THIS SPACE, BUT I'M
CURIOUS. HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE
THOSE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
TO PARTICIPATE? UM, IN THE
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR? UM VOCATIONAL
AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES,
BECAUSE CERTAINLY THAT THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NECESSARY IF
WE ARE TO ENSURE THAT ALL
COMMUNITIES GET A CHANCE TO
FULLY ENGAGE IN THIS 2030
TRANSFORMATION. WE'RE ABOUT TO
PARTICIPATE IN TERMS OF MOVING
FROM FOSSIL FUEL INTO THE
ELECTRICAL VEHICLE SPACE. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. UH, WE ARE
ALWAYS SEEKING OUT TO
PARTICIPATE IN JOB FAIRS. UM AND
THAT'S JUST A WAY TO TRY AND
REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC. YOU
KNOW COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES BOTH
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. AS IT
RELATES TO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. WE
HAVE ANOTHER ADVISORY GROUP THAT
I FAILED TO MENTION. WE CALL OUR
EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP WHERE
A LOT OF ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON
THE SMOG CHECK PROGRAM. BUT
THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
DISCUSSED. UH, HOW TO AH, GET TO
THOSE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY AS
IT RELATES TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES
AND OTHER HOT TOPIC AREA OF
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITIES TO
BE EQUIPPED TO, UH ENABLE, UH,
COMPETENT TO PREPARE TO REPAIR
THOSE VEHICLES. UM I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THAT
ADVISORY GROUP TO SEE HOW WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO UM, REACH OUT
TO THOSE COMMUNITIES. APPRECIATE
THAT IN MY OFFICE IS VERY OPEN
TO SUPPORTING THAT. THAT EFFORT
AND WORK. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
EIGHT YEARS RIGHT TO GET TO
WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO AND WE
KNOW IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS AND
CREATING THOSE CENTERS AND
WORKING BACK FROM THAT DATE.
THIS INDUSTRY IS GOING TO NEED
TO DO IT SIGNIFICANT
TRANSFORMATION AND ITS TRAINING
AND EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND
SUPPORTING THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
INDUSTRY AND THAT SECTOR UM SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING THAT INFORMATION BACK
FROM YOU, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE
EDUCATION UM, CAN COMMITTEE IS
WORKING ON MY NEXT QUESTION HAS
TO DO WITH ECONOMIC BARRIERS FOR
LICENSING AND PROCESSES. NEW TO
THIS. AH AH COMMITTEE BUT ACROSS
THE BOARD, THE COSTS OF
LICENSING IS TOUGH, AND
PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL
CLAWING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE
COVID. UM IMPACT AND I KNOW THE
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TOOK A MAJOR
HIT. HIS FOLKS STAYED HOME AND
GOT OFF OF THE ROADS. WHAT ARE
THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU ALL HAVE
IDENTIFIED SOME SIGNIFICANT
BARRIERS FOR THE LICENSING
ECONOMIC BARRIERS FOR THE
LICENSING PROCESS? AND
PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE MINORITY
, UM, DISADVANTAGED? UM. GROUPS
AND BUSINESS OWNERS. WELL, THE
GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR INDUSTRY IS OPEN TO
ANYONE. THERE IS A REGISTRATION
, NOT A LICENSE THAT REQUIRES AN
EXAM. IT'S A $200 A YEAR
REGISTRATION. WE WELCOME ALL WE
WANT TO. WE ARE INTERESTED IN
REPAIRING VEHICLES TO BECOME AN
AUTOMOTIVE PREPARED DEALER.
SECONDLY THERE ARE NO LICENSE
REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR TECHNICIANS. AH WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THREE PROGRAMS
WHERE CERTIFICATION OF A VEHICLE
IS REQUIRED TO, UM, INFORM THE
PUBLIC THAT THE VEHICLE HAS MET.
VARIOUS STATE STANDARDS OR SMOG
, CHECK OR EMISSIONS AND THEN
LAMP AND BREAK AND THE SAFETY OF
THOSE SYSTEMS. UM AS REQUIRED BY
A STATUTE THAT WAS CHAPTER IN
2021. WE WILL LOOK TO
INCORPORATE. EXCUSE ME. MERGE
THOSE TWO LAMP AND BREAK
PROGRAMS INTO A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE VEHICLE SAFETY
SYSTEMS INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT
WILL LOOK AT PERFORMING AN
INSPECTION ON SALVAGE TITLE
VEHICLES. THOSE ARE VEHICLES
THAT ARE DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND
THEN EVENTUALLY RESURRECTED AND
PUT BACK ON THE ROAD. CURRENTLY
THEY JUST REQUIRE A SMOG LAMP
AND BRAKE INSPECTION WILL BE
LOOKED TO LOOKING TO. IN
ADDITION TO THE SMOG HAVING A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY
SYSTEMS, INSPECTION OF NOT JUST
THE LAMP AND BREAK THE
WINDSHIELD. SEAT BELTS, AIRBAGS
AND SO FORTH. UM. THOSE THOSE
THREE PROGRAMS DO REQUIRE, AND
THEY'RE PROBABLY LESS THAN
10,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORMED
THOSE INSPECTIONS ON THOSE
VEHICLES THAT ARE LICENSED WITH
US FOR SMOG. PROBABLY ROUGHLY
7500, AND THEN MAYBE LAMB FROM
BREAK AND THERE'S USUALLY
DUPLICATION ABOUT 1000 TO 1500
LICENSES THERE. SO A LITTLE
UNDER 10,000, I THINK LICENSES
THAT DO REQUIRE AN EXAM. AND WE
WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S
OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL
EXAMINATION SERVICES TO PERFORM
JOB ANALYSES. AND ENSURE THAT
THE UM EXAMS ARE REFLECTIVE OF
THE, UH THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS
AND ARE SUPPORTIVE OF UM. UH AND
ALLOWING MORE INDIVIDUALS TO
PASS THOSE EXAMS AND BECOME PART
OF OUR LICENSED NETWORK AND
THOSE THREE DISCIPLINES. AND I
JUST WANTED TO ADD. WE ACTUALLY
HAVE A DIVERSION, UM, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION STEERING COMMITTEE
THAT WE'VE JUST STARTED. WE'VE
HAD TWO MEETINGS SO FAR, AND
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT IS NOT ONLY LOOKING
AT D E I WITHIN OUR WORKFORCE AS
FAR AS THE DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO
OUT IN THE PROFESSION AND SEEING
ARE THERE BARRIERS TO LICENSE
SURE IN ANY OF OUR PROFESSIONS.
AND LOOKING OUT, UM, IDENTIFYING
SET COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN USE
AS CONTACTS WERE ALSO GOING TO
BE REACHING OUT TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES TO HELP US IDENTIFY
AND BUILD OUR STRATEGIC PLANS SO
WE CAN LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THAT,
AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH
STRATEGIC PLANS AND HAVE INPUT
FROM THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE,
MAYBE IN THE PAST, THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. AND
WE'VE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED ALREADY
A BEHAVED A STRATEGIC PLANNING
PAGE SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT,
WHERE WE CAN DRIVE INDIVIDUALS
TO THAT PAGE, AND THEY'LL KNOW
WHEN DIFFERENT ONES OF OUR
BOARDS AND BUREAUS ARE ACTUALLY
LOOKING INTO DO A STRATEGIC
PLAN. AND SO ONCE WE HAVE THOSE
CONTACTS MADE, AND THAT'S ONE
THING THAT OUR COMMITTEE IS
GOING TO BE WORKING FOR IS JUST
BUILDING A BASE RIGHT AND
LOOKING. WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK
WITH YOU AND IDENTIFY
INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN MAKE. UM
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON OUR
CONTACT LIST WHEN WE WANT TO
SEND OUT INFORMATION AND GET
FEEDBACK, SO WE WOULD REALLY
LOOK TO PARTNERING WITH YOU ON
THAT AS WELL BUT ALSO LOOKING AT
IT WITHIN THE WORKFORCE OUTSIDE
OF OUR OWN WORKFORCE, BUT IN OUR
WORKPLACE OF OUR LICENSES I
APPRECIATE THAT. AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT
THE D I WORK AND HOW TO, UM,
MAKE SURE THAT 28TH DISTRICT CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SENATOR. ANY LAST
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR NOT LAST
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND
COLLEAGUES KNOW ALRIGHT, WE'RE
GONNA OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC SO
UH, ONCE AGAIN, UM, AS A
REMINDER FOR EVERY PORTION OF
TODAY'S HEARING, UH, WELL, WE'LL
HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WILL BE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF
TWO MINUTES PER ORGANIZATION. SO
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME TO
SPEAK TO THE BUREAU OF
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, PLEASE COME
ON UP. AND AS THEY LEAVE, JUST
REALLY WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR
KIRK MEYER AND BUREAU CHIEF DORY
. THANK YOU FOR THOSE VERY
THOUGHTFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE
ANSWERS AFFORDED WORKING
TOGETHER WITH YOU BOTH. GO AHEAD
. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JACK
MULLAH DONNA ON BEHALF OF THE
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE COUNCILS OF
CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS COALITION IN
THE CALIFORNIA AUTO BODY
ASSOCIATION, THE B A. R SERVES
IN A SESSIONAL FUNCTION BY
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC THROUGH
OVERSIGHT OF THE AUTOMOTIVE
REPAIR INDUSTRY WITHOUT THE B A
. R THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
INDUSTRY WOULD BE THE WILD WEST.
CONTINUING TO BE OUR OVERSIGHT.
OF THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
INDUSTRY REMAINS JUST AS
IMPORTANT. TODAY AS IT DID BACK
IN 1971. WHEN IT WAS CREATED. WE
HAVE SUBMITTED A LETTER AND
COMMENTS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED
IN THE COMMITTEE BACKGROUND
PAPER, BUT LET ME JUST BRIEFLY
TOUCH ON A FEW ISSUES. THERE
WERE RAISED. THE FIRST ISSUE ON
THE BACKGROUND PAPER WAS WITH
RESPECT TO THE BR ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEETINGS. UH WE
BELIEVE THE BR ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEETING GROUP
COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT
. WE ENCOURAGED THEIR
CONTINUATION, UM, ISSUE NUMBER
FIVE. IN THE BACKGROUND PAPER
WAS WITH RESPECT TO AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE RIDERS. UM AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE RIDERS ARE EMPLOYED BY
THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR DEALER. UM
SERVICE WRITERS DIRECTLY
COMMUNICATE WITH THE CUSTOMER
ABOUT ESTIMATES, UM, REPAIRS
AUTHORIZATION, THESE INDIVIDUALS
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND
REMEDIAL TRAINING OF LAWS AND
REGULATIONS BEING PROPOSED, UM,
CURRENTLY BY THE BR, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY THE PRINCIPAL WHO
MAYBE THE ABSENTEE OWNER BUT DUE
TO LACK OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY.
B R IS NOT ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH
THIS REQUEST, AND WE BELIEVE
THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
SOME CLEANUP LEGISLATION THERE.
ISSUE NUMBER SEVEN IN THE
BACKGROUND, PAPER STORAGE FEES
AND INSURERS. I KNOW YOU TALKED
ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY BE AREAS
ACCEPTING REFERRALS FROM
INSURERS TO DETERMINE IF
UNREASONABLE. STORAGE RATES WERE
CHARGED. NOW SOME OF THESE CASES
INVOLVING EXCESSIVE STORAGE FEES
RESULT DIRECTLY FROM THE
UNREASONABLE DELAY BY THE
INSURER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.
AND THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. UM ONE
OF THE IDEAS WAS CREATING THE
TASK FORCE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE
THE B A. R THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
DEALERS, INSURERS AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP
SOLUTIONS. ONE THING I JUST WANT
TO COMMENT. I KNOW THERE WAS
DISCUSSION ON TOWING AND
STORAGE. THE COMMENTS FROM. WHAT
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER. HER
COMMENTS WERE DIRECTLY DEALING
WITH NON CONSENSUAL TOES VERSUS
CONSENSUAL TOES. THESE THE TOES
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN THE
BR CONTEXT, OUR CUSTOMER WANTS
TO HAVE THEIR CAR REPAIRED AND
FACILITY. THEY ARE CONSENTING OR
AUTHORIZING THE CAR TO BE AT
THAT FACILITY, SO IT'S THERE'S A
BIG DISTINCTION BETWEEN NON
CONSENSUAL AND CONSENSUAL. AND
FINALLY ON ISSUE NUMBER EIGHT IN
THE BACKGROUND PAPER, UH, WITH
RESPECT TO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, UM THERE
HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES THAT HAVE
RISEN WITH WITH WHICH WAS WITH
RESPECT TO SOME SOFTWARE POINT
OF SALE APPLICATIONS. THAT MAY
PUT THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR DEALER
AT RISK VIOLATING ESTIMATE WORK
ORDER AND INVOICE REQUIREMENTS.
B R SHOULD HAVE SOME
JURISDICTION OVER THE SOFTWARE
VENDORS THAT PURPORT TO COMPLY
WITH BR ESTIMATE AND INVOICE
REGULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT ANY ADDITIONAL,
UH, COMMENTS FROM WITHIN THE
HEARING ROOM? SEEING NONE WILL
GO TO THE PHONE LINES. I THINK
WE MIGHT HAVE ONE CALLER ONLINE
OPERATOR THERE ANYBODY IS THERE.
ANYONE ON THE PHONE WHO WANTS TO
SPEAK TO THE BUREAU OF
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR? THANK YOU.
YOU LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS? DO
YOU FEEL LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE?
PRESS ONE, THEN ZERO ON YOUR
TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU HEAR AN
INDICATION NOTING THAT YOU'VE
BEEN PLACED INTO Q AND YOU MAY
IN 18 T SPECIALISTS WILL PROVIDE
YOU WITH YOUR LINE NUMBER AND
THAT'S HOW WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU
. IF YOU'RE USING A SPEAKERPHONE
, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE PICK UP
YOUR HANDSET BEFORE PRESSING ANY
BUTTONS AGAIN. IF YOU'RE WANTING
TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. MR CHAIR
. WE HAVE NO ONE QUEUING UP AT
THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. OPERATOR ARE RIGHT WITH THAT
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO REVIEW
OF THE NEXT BOARD, WHICH IS THE
STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL BOARD.
UH, AND WITH US TODAY. I BELIEVE
WE HAVE. KYLE FINDLAY BOARD
PRESIDENT SOFIA CORNEJO,
EXECUTIVE OFFICER. AND I THINK
THAT'S IT. GREAT. PLEASE BEGIN
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. I THINK
MANY HIT THE BUTTON THE MIC
BUTTON. IS IT LIT UP? IT IS LIT
UP NOW. THERE WE GO. OKAY GOOD
MORNING, SENATOR ROTH AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BERMAN AND THE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT OUR SUNSET REVIEW REPORT
TODAY. MY NAME IS KYLE FINDLAY,
AND I AM A LICENSED BOARD MEMBER
CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE STRUCTURAL PEST
CONTROL BOARD. WITH ME TODAY IS
EXECUTIVE OFFICER SOFIA CORNEJO
. THE STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL
BOARD PROTECTS THE GENERAL.
WE'RE WELFARE OF CALIFORNIA'S BY
PROMOTING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
, THE LICENSEES AND CONSUMERS
AND BY THE EFFECTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL ACT.
THE BOARD OVERSEES APPROXIMATELY
25,000 LICENSES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA AND OVER 3200
COMPANIES APPROVES CONTINUING
EDUCATION PROVIDERS AND
CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES.
CONSUMER PROTECTION IS THE
PRIMARY FOCUS OF ALL ACTIONS
TAKEN BY THIS BOARD AND AS A
GUIDE FOR ALL DECISIONS MADE. TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS. THE BOARD'S
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, ASSISTS
CONSUMERS BY MEDIATING AND
INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS OF
POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT.
AUDITING COMPANY RECORDS FOR
COMPLIANCE AND MODERATE
MONITORING PROBATIONERS TO
ENSURE THEY FULFILL THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR
PROBATION. SOME OF THE BOARD'S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE OUR LAST
SUNSET REVIEW INCLUDE AWARDING
FIVE MAJOR CONTRACTS FOR
RESEARCH PROJECTS AS OF AUGUST.
31ST 2022 4 OF THE RESEARCH
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND
THE FINAL REPORTS ARE POSTED ON
THE BOARD'S WEBSITE. THE BOARD
EXPECTS TO AWARD ADDITIONAL
RESEARCH CONTRACTS AND THE
COMING FISCAL YEAR. THE BOARD
ALSO BEGAN BUSINESS
MODERNIZATION TO ACQUIRE AND
IMPLEMENT A NEW INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM. THIS
PROJECT WILL GREATLY BENEFIT
CONSUMERS AND THE PEST CONTROL
INDUSTRY BY OFFERING ONLINE
PAYMENT AND DOCUMENT SUBMISSION
CAPABILITY, AS WELL AS MANY
OTHER FEATURES ALLOWED BY MODERN
TECHNOLOGY. AS A RESULT OF THE
COVID 19 PANDEMIC. THE BOARD
IMPLEMENTED A TELE WORK PROGRAM
AND SEAMLESSLY CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO AN ESSENTIAL
INDUSTRY AND FULFILL ITS PRIMARY
MISSION OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC
LEGISLATIVELY. THE BOARD
DEVELOPED LANGUAGE REQUIRING
REGISTERED COMPANIES TO CARRY
WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE
COVERAGE. THIS LANGUAGE WAS
INCORPORATED INTO THE SENATE
BILL. 10 64 AND WILL STRENGTHEN
PROTECTIONS FOR LICENSES AND
CONSUMERS. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING US HERE TODAY AND
GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS OUR BOARD WITH YOU. OUR
EXECUTIVE AUTHOR SER SOFIA.
CORNEJO AND I WILL GLADLY TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS MAY HAVE THANK YOU,
PRESIDENT FINDLAY AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICER CORNEJO. DID YOU HAVE
ANY COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE OR
JUST AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS?
I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
GREAT THANKS SO MUCH. I WANT TO
OPEN UP THE TO SOMETHING.
MEMBERS. SENATORS ON THE
COMMITTEE THIS EVENING. ONE HAS
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SOME
MEMBER NGUYEN. UH YES. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. UH COULD YOU JUST
EXPLAIN THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN
THE STAFF REPORT THAT SAYS THAT
YOU HAVEN'T CONDUCTED ANY
RESEARCH? IS IT JUST NOT UPDATED
ON THE WEBSITE IS THAT THE
CONFLICT? WE SUBMITTED THE. THE
SUNSET REPORT ACTUALLY REFLECTED
THE CORRECT INFORMATION THAT
THERE WERE RESEARCH PROJECTS
CONDUCTED. UM I CONTACTED STAFF
AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE
DISCREPANCY IN THE BACKGROUND
PAPER. UM I DON'T. I DON'T
BELIEVE IT WAS UPDATED ON THE
WEBSITE. GREAT. ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I JUST I
JUST HAVE ONE UM, BECAUSE MY
BRIEFING SAYS THERE ARE VERY FEW
ISSUES, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE VERY FEW
ISSUES. UM BUT IN TERMS OF SOME
OF THE BOARD'S LOW EXAMINATION
PASSAGE RATES, WHICH IDENTIFIED
UNDER ISSUE THREE IN THE
BACKGROUND PAPER, ARE THERE. ANY
TRENDS THAT THE BOARD HAS
IDENTIFIED? IS EXAMINATION TOO
DIFFICULT OR TRAINING OPTIONS
TOO LIMITED. SO THE BOARDS
LICENSE SHIRES LICENSURE
EXAMINATIONS HAVE EITHER VERY
MINIMAL OR NO MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS ON EDUCATION,
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING. THESE
LICENSE EXAM PASS RATES ARE
TYPICALLY BETWEEN 40 AND 60. SO
THE BOARDS PASS RATES ARE
SLIGHTLY HIRED AT A RANGE OF
ABOUT 62. UM, SINCE 2020 DUE TO
COVID, WE WERE UNABLE TO CONDUCT
EXAM DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AS
WE NORMALLY WOULD DO TO THE LACK
OF THE SME RECRUITMENT. AND
PARTICIPATION. HOWEVER THE
WORKSHOP PROCESS IS BEING
RESTARTED AGAIN. AND HOPEFULLY
WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SLIGHT
IMPROVEMENT IN THE RESULT IN OUR
EXAM PASSED RATES IN THE FUTURE.
UM AND I WOULD SAY, JUST BEING
IN THE INDUSTRY, ONE OF THE
COMMON PRACTICES IS, UH, WE HIRE
SOMEBODY AND THEY SAY, AND WE
TELL THEM ALMOST, UM HEY, GO AND
TAKE THE TEST AND SEE WHAT'S ON
IT, AND THEN YOU CAN KIND OF
STUDY FOR IT AND THE SECOND TIME
PASS IT SO THAT AFFECTS THE RATE
QUITE A BIT AS WELL. THAT'S
THAT'S HOW I PASSED MOST OF MY
TESTS. YAHOO! ANY. UH YES.
PLEASE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAKIN,
ER GOOD MORNING. UM I HAVE TWO
QUESTIONS. THE FIRST QUESTION IS
, UM WHAT'S THE STATUS ON YOUR
VACANCIES? I SEE THAT AS UNDER
ISSUE NUMBER TWO. AND THEN
SECONDLY, WHAT WHEN YOU DO THE
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. WHAT
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? ON THOSE
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND
IF THEY VOLUNTEER AND TELL YOU
WHEN THEY'RE TAKING THESE TESTS
TO GET THE LICENSE. UM IF THEY
VOLUNTEER AND TELL YOU WHAT,
WHAT, WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS,
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THEIR
CHANCES? SO REGARDING THE
VACANCY RATES. CURRENTLY WE HAVE
FOUR VACANT POSITIONS, TWO OF
WHICH ARE WE'RE JUST VACATED.
PROBABLY I THINK IN JANUARY AND
FEBRUARY AND WE ARE RECRUITING
THOSE AND FILLING THOSE
POSITIONS. THE ASSISTANT
EXECUTIVE OFFICER IS ALSO VACANT
, AND I PLAN TO FILL THAT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO
IN JULY UM, OVER THE PAST FOUR
YEARS, WE HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY
16 VACANCIES, WHICH IS NOT A
WHOLE LOT. UM I DON'T SEE ANY
ISSUES WITH OUR VACANCY RATES.
UM I THINK IT'S A PRETTY, UM ARE
VACANCY IS A STANDARD OR STEADY
RATE. UM WE FILL THEM RIGHT AWAY
. UM, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT
OF TURNOVER. UM. AND THEN WHAT
ABOUT THE BACKGROUND CHECKS?
BACKGROUND CHECKS? YES SO, UM
ALL LICENSES OR APPLICANTS ARE
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT FINGERPRINTS.
AND WE GET SOME RESULTS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON FEDERAL
RESULTS AS WELL AS STATE DOJ.
AND WHEN. SOMETHING HITS ON A
LICENSE OR AN APPLICANT. UM WE
LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND AND WE
MAKE SURE THAT, UM IT'S
SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO THE
PROFESSION. UM SO WE LOOKED AT
WHAT THE CONVICTIONS ARE. UM AND
WE DO HAVE DISCIPLINARY
GUIDELINES. WE HAVE CERTAIN
GUIDELINES THAT WE GO OFF OF AND
DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE
GONNA TAKE ACTION DENIAL LICENSE
. PUT HIM ON PROBATION. UM,
REVOKE, SUSPEND. SO UM, IT JUST
DEPENDS ON WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND
COMES BACK AT, AND WE ALSO
RECEIVED SUBSEQUENT ARREST
REPORTS AND THAT'S WHEN WE
DECIDE IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
ANY ACTION AGAINST ANY OF OUR
AGAINST THE LICENSEE. THAT WAS,
UM, SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED. THANK
YOU. IS IT SOMEWHERE WHERE WE
CAN FIND THOSE GUIDELINES? JUST
INTERESTED? IT'S SOMETHING THAT
I CAN PROVIDE TO YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT UH, ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS CENTER
CURIOUS HOW? WHAT'S HOW
PREVALENT IS THAT HITTING OF SO
THE FINGERPRINT IS REQUIRED. YOU
GO THROUGH THE LICENSING
PROCESS. YES. SO. BUT THERE IS
NO IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
THERE'S NO BOX. NO ONE HAS TO
CHECK WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN THAT
QUESTION WAS REMOVED. UM, I
BELIEVE IT WAS, UM ASSEMBLY BILL
21 38. IT REQUIRED THAT TO NO
LONGER BE ASKED. SO WE RELY ON
THE QUARRY SYSTEM TO PROVIDE,
YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY'RE
FINGERPRINTED THEIR BACKGROUND
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WE
OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
AND AT THAT POINT DO YOU GO BACK
TO THE APPLICANT OR IS IT YOUR
INTERNAL DISCIPLINARY REVIEW?
OKAY. AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE
APPLICANT? AT THAT POINT, YOU
TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THAT. WHAT?
WHAT WAS FOUND APPLICANT CAN YOU
KNOW? IF THEIR FORTHCOMING WITH
THEIR INFORMATION HONEST ABOUT
WHAT'S YOU KNOW AND PROVIDE THE
COURT DOCUMENTS? UM THAT
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE,
IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. UM
BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU
KNOW. THESE ARE WHO WE LICENSE
OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING INTO
YOUR HOMES, AND WE JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING
, YOU KNOW, CONSUMERS IN THE
PUBLIC AND HOW MANY OF WOULD YOU
SAY OF THE, UM APPLICANTS THAT
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS
DISCIPLINARY PROCESS? HOW MANY
ARE NOT LICENSED BECAUSE OF THE
PROCESS. HOW MANY ARE NOT ABLE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
OPPORTUNITY OF JOINING YOUR
INDUSTRY DENIALS? YES. I DON'T
ACTUALLY HAVE THAT STATISTIC IN
FRONT OF ME. UM BUT IT'S
SOMETHING THAT I CAN PROVIDE IT.
IT IS IN OUR SENSE THAT REPORT
AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
OKAY I JUST SAW IT IN THE NOTES.
SO FOR ITS AT 47, OKAY, DENIAL
OUT OF HOW MANY WE GET ABOUT, UM
. IN ONE YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 700
CONVICTIONS. HOW MANY 700
CONVICTIONS. I'M SORRY. SO, UM
APPLICANTS TOTAL IN A YEAR.
YEAH. WHAT'S YOUR TOTAL NUMBER?
I THINK THAT'S AROUND 1717 100,
OKAY? THANK YOU. GREAT.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
BEGINNING, SAYING NONE WERE NOT
OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC. ANYBODY
FROM THE PUBLIC IN THE AUDIENCE
TODAY I WANT TO COME AND SPEAK
TO THE, UH, STRUCTURAL PEST
CONTROL BOARD. SEEING NONE.
LET'S TURN TO THE THANK YOU AND
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, PRESIDENT FINDLAY. THANK
YOU. EXECUTIVE OFFICER CORNEJO
APPRECIATE IT. ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, UH, ON THE PHONES
OPERATOR WANTED TO TURN IT OVER
TO YOU TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE
ON THE PHONE. SHE WANTS TO SPEAK
TO THE STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL
BOARD. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT
THIS TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE
PRESS 10. YOU'LL BE PUT INTO A
QUEUE AND GIVEN YOUR LINE
NUMBER, AND THAT'S HOW WE WILL
IDENTIFY YOU FOR QUESTIONS ONCE
AGAIN, ONE AND ZERO IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
AND MR CHAIR. WE DON'T HAVE
ANYONE QUEUING UP AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR
OPERATOR. SO NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON
TO REVIEW OF THE CALIFORNIA TAX
EDUCATION COUNCIL. I BELIEVE
THERE'S A GROUP OF FOLKS, UH,
HERE HERE IN PERSON TODAY AND
THEN ALSO POSSIBLY SOMEBODY
PARTICIPATING VIA WEBEX, SO
OPERATOR I'M NOT SURE WHO IT IS.
WHO'S PARTICIPATING VIA WEBEX.
BUT IF YOU CAN MAYBE SEE IF
THERE'S ANYBODY PARTICIPATING
VIA WEBEX AS WELL AND PULL THEM
OUT OF THE LINE. I'M GOING TO
LET ALL OF YOU GO AHEAD AND SELF
INTRODUCE. UH FOLKS HAVE
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS. PLEASE
START WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. I'M
INTIMIDATED GOING TO BE HONEST.
ESTÁN TESTING PERFECT. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS LESTER
CRAWFORD AND I AM THE CURRENT
SHARE OF THE CALIFORNIA TEXT.
EDUCATION COUNCIL TECH. WE'RE
HERE WITH ME OR CELESTE HERITAGE
, THE CEATEC ADMINISTRATOR.
TABATHA BOWL KITSCH. C TECH
STAFF. REBECCA LANDO'S AND
DENNIS ARMSTRONG ON THE
FRANCHISE TAX BOARD. G. CAMPELL
WITH G. JONES PUBLIC RELATIONS
APPEARING REMOTELY. AND ALLISON
SEGAL, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. WE
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY
TO DISCUSS OUR PROGRAM WITH YOU.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME
REPRESENTING CEATEC AS BOARD
CHAIR BEFORE THE JOINT
COMMITTEES. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND
IN 1996 AND LOWEST PASSED BY THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR THAT
AUTHORIZED THE CALIFORNIA TEXT
EDUCATION COUNCIL AS A PRIVATE,
NONPROFIT ENTITY AND CHARGED IT
WITH ENSURING THAT QUALIFIED TAX
PREPARERS SERVE. CALIFORNIA
TAXPAYERS. THIS LOUD TRANSFERRED
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPROVING
TAX SCHOOLS AND CERTIFYING THE
EDUCATION OF TAX PREPARES. FROM
THE TAX PREPARER PROGRAM IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
TO THE CALIFORNIA TEXT EDUCATION
COUNCIL. C TECH REGULATES ANY
PERSON WHO FOR ÁP ASSIST WITH OR
PREPARES FEDERAL OR STATE TAX
RETURNS. FOR ANOTHER PERSON. C P
A. S WHO ARE LICENSED BY THE
CALIFORNIA BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY.
IN ROAD AGENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED
WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE. ATTORNEYS WHO ARE
ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE STATE BAR
OF CALIFORNIA. AND EMPLOYEES OF
THESE ENTITIES ARE ALL EXEMPT.
FROM THE LAW. AT THE TIME OF THE
TRANSFER FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000
REGISTERED TAX PREPARES IN THE
STATE. TODAY CEATEC REGISTERS
ALMOST 40,000 PREPARES ANNUALLY.
AS OF JULY 1 2020 NEW APPLICANTS
FOR REGISTRATION ARE REQUIRED TO
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATION. WHICH INCLUDES
FINGERPRINTING SUBMIT ALS TO THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE. THOSE WHO PASSED THE
BACKGROUND CHECK ARE THEN
REQUIRED TO PAY A REGISTRATION
FEE. TAKE AN INITIAL 60 HOURS OF
QUALIFYING EDUCATION. PLUS A
FINAL EXAM GIVEN BY THE
PROVIDER. OBTAIN A $5000 SURETY
BOND. AND OBTAIN A PERSONAL TAX
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FROM THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. ONCE
REGISTERED. IN ORDER TO RENEW. A
C TECH REGISTERED TAX PREPARER
IS REQUIRED TO PAY A
REGISTRATION FEE TAKES 20 HOURS
OF CONTINUING EDUCATION ANNUALLY
FROM A C TECH APPROVED PROVIDER.
HAVE A $5000 TAX PREPARES SURETY
BOND. AND HAVE A PERSONAL TAX
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FROM THE
I. R. S. C TECH NOT ONLY
REGISTERS PREPARES BUT ALSO
APPROVES TAX EDUCATION SCHOOLS.
PROVIDERS OF THE 60 HOUR COURSE
DEVELOPED THEIR OWN COURSE
MATERIAL AND FARMER EXAM THAT
MUST INCLUDE SPECIFIC SUBJECT
MATTER AS OUTLINED IN C TECH
POLICY. BOTH THE 60 HOUR AND 20.
OUR CURRICULUM PROVIDERS GO
THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW
PROCESS BY BOTH THE TECH
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. C TECH
CURRICULUM REVIEWERS AND OTHER
ACT DIMENSIONS. EVERY THREE
YEARS AND APPROVED PROVIDER IS
REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR MATERIALS
WE REVIEWED CURRENTLY, TECH HAS
APPROXIMATELY 100 APPROVED,
SCHOOLS ARE OFFERING BOTH
CLASSROOM AND ONLINE COURSES.
ANJALI TECH HOLDS A VIRTUAL
CURRICULUM PROVIDER TASK FORCE
MEETING TO REVIEW PROVIDED
POLICIES ANSWER PROVIDED
QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE INPUT FROM
PROVIDERS AND HOW TO IMPROVE AND
RESOLVE ANY ISSUES THEY MAY HAVE
WITH THE C TECH PROGRAM.
ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE
C TECH PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE OF THE
ART COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR ONLINE
REGISTRATION. WITH THE ONLINE
REGISTRATION CEATEC APPROVED
CURRICULUM PROVIDERS ARE
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT STUDENT
COURSE INFORMATION TO SEE TECH
ELECTRONICALLY. PROVIDERS ARE
GIVEN A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME BY
WHICH THIS INFORMATION MUST BE
SUBMITTED TO SEE TECH. DURING
ANNUAL REGISTRATION CYCLES. C R
T. P S ARE ABLE TO GO ONLINE.
VIEW THEIR EDUCATION AND RENEW
THEIR REGISTRATION. IF THE
STUDENT EDUCATION HAS NOT BEEN
SUBMITTED BY A PROVIDER, A
RENEWING C, R T P OR NEW
APPLICANT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
REGISTER. UNLIKE THE MANUAL,
RANDOM AUDITING HAVE SELECTED C
P A. S AND E A. S C TECH
VERIFIES THE EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS OF EVERY PREPARER.
PRIOR TO THEIR INITIAL
REGISTRATION AND SUBSEQUENT CUTE
ANDREW RENEWAL REGISTRATION. ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDERTAKEN BY
C. TECH IS TO EDUCATE CALIFORNIA
TAXPAYERS UNDER SELECTION
PROCESS OF A QUALIFIED PLAQUES,
PROFESSIONAL. AN ANNUAL BUDGET
OF APPROXIMATELY $391,000. IS
ALLOCATED FOR PAID ADVERTISING
THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR THIS
PURPOSE. C TECH CONTRACTS WITH A
PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM TO DEVELOP
A CLEAR AND CONCISE MESSAGE
REGARDING TAX PROFESSIONALS.
THIS INCLUDES PRODUCING A
PODCAST IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS THROUGH
THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA OUT
OF YOUR PLATFORMS AND MOBILE
DEVICES. TECH USES TWITTER.
FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM AND YOUTUBE
TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT ON SOCIAL
MEDIA REGARDING UNSCRUPULOUS TAX
PREPARES. OVER THE PAST TWO
YEARS, C TECH HAS CONTINUED TO
EXPAND ITS GUEST LIST FOR THE
PODCAST. THIS YEAR. WE ARE NOW
PARTNERING WITH FORBES, THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS WELL
AS THE CALIFORNIA FRANCHISE TAX
BOARD TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
ABOUT HOW TO FIND A CEATEC
REGISTERED PREPARER AND AVOID
FRAUD. GUESTS INCLUDE A SENIOR
EDITOR AND TAX ATTORNEY FROM
FORBES. FRANCHISE TAX BOARD'S
TAX PAYER ADVOCATE BRENDA VOTE
THE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE PAST HAS
TAXPAYER EXCUSE ME, ADVOCATE
STEVE SIMMS, AS WELL AS A VICTIM
OF FRAUD WHO PROVIDED HIS
TESTIMONY TO OUR LISTENERS IN
SPANISH. THE KEY TO ANY LAW IS
ENFORCEMENT. FOR THIS REASON,
CEATEC PARTNERS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA TAXED CALIFORNIA
FRANCHISE TAX BOARD TO PROVIDE
THE NEEDED ENFORCEMENT ARM OF
THE PROGRAM. C TECH BUDGETS
BETWEEN 700,000 ANNUALLY TO THE
FRANCHISE TAX BOARD TO PROVIDE
THIS SERVICE. IN RETURN THE
FRANCHISE TAX BOARD FRAUD UNIT
INVESTIGATORS ARE OUT IN THE
FIELD. IDENTIFYING AND FIGHTING
AND REGISTERED PREPARERS. ALL
PENALTIES COLLECTED BY THE
FRANCHISE TAX BOARD. GO INTO THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. GENERAL
BRIAN. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN
1997. NO STATE FUNDS HAVE EVER
BEEN SPENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION
OF THE C TECH PROGRAM. IT IS
MOSTLY FUNDED FROM THE ANNUAL
REGISTRATION FEE OF $33 AND A
LATE REGISTRATION FEE OF $55.
MOREOVER THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN
INCREASE IN REGISTRATION FEES
SINCE AUGUST. 1ST 2014. IN
CLOSING. I WOULD LIKE TO
PERSONALLY THANK THE LEGISLATORS
FOR AUTHORIZING THIS ENTITY. THE
LEGISLATIVE STAFF FOR KEEPING US
ON TRACK IN OUR INTERFACING WITH
THE LEGISLATURE. FRANCHISE TAX
BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO OUR
BOARD FOR THEIR PARTNERING WITH
US IN GETTING THE UNREGISTERED
PREPARERS OFF THE STREET. SEE
TEXT, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND
OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE
BEEN PARAMOUNT IN THE SUCCESS OF
C TECH. AND FINALLY TO THE
DEDICATED VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF
THE BOARD, WHO HAVE TRULY SHOWN
THEIR DESIRE TO CARRY OUT THE
GOALS AND MISSION OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEXT EDUCATION
COUNCIL FOR THE BENEFIT OF
CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHAIR CRAWFORD. DOES
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA MAKE ANY
OPENING REMARKS OR HERE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS ARE RIGHT. UH,
CHEER OFF. WITH RESPECT TO YOUR
FUN CONDITION AND FISCAL ISSUES
. HAVE YOU DETERMINED THE ACTUAL
AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT YOUR
FUNCTION? ALRIGHT WITH RESPECT
TO NEW APPLICANTS OR THE TOTAL
BUDGET. ACTUAL REVENUE THAT YOU
NEEDED REVENUE ISSUE RIGHT
REVENUE ISSUE CURRENTLY, I HAVE
THE ARAB BUDGET IN FRONT OF ME
NOW, AND I HAVE SERVED AS THE
PRESIDENT, FINANCE CHAIR FOR
MANY YEARS OF THE CALIFORNIA TAX
EDUCATION COUNCIL. CURRENTLY OUR
INCOME STANDS AT ABOUT 1.7
MILLION. WHICH IS ENOUGH TO FIND
ALL OF THE PROGRAMS OUTLINED FOR
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN
ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM.
WITHOUT A FUTURE FEE INCREASE
FUTURE BE INCREASED ON ONE OTHER
QUESTION. ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR
ME. UM FINGERPRINT AND
BACKGROUND CHECKS. PERENNIAL
ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US IN THE
SUNSET REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE
DOJ. WHEN YOU WERE TOLD THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE PROVIDING
FOR FINGERPRINT CHECKS AND
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS WAS
INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THE FBI TO
PROVIDE THE NECESSARY
INFORMATION TO YOU. THAT'S WHAT
OUR BACKGROUNDERS SUGGESTS. DID.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PROVIDES YOU WITH SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE NEEDED TO FIX THE
PROBLEM. AND IF AND IF NOT, WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? NO
THEY DID NOT. THEY DID NOT
PROVIDE US. WE HAD SEVERAL
CONVERSATIONS WITH DOJ, AND THEY
SAID THAT THEY INITIALLY HAD
SENT OVER LANGUAGE TO THE
LEGISLATURE WITH REGARD TO THIS
PROBLEM THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAID
, IT'S JUST NEVER WENT ANYWHERE
. THE BILL WAS NOT CHANGED, AND
SO IT'S BEEN WE JUST HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE AFTER MANY, MANY
CONVERSATIONS WITH DOJ. WE HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT
LANGUAGE. IF WE COULD, WE WOULD
WE WOULD PROVIDE IT. YOU MEAN
AFTER MAKING THAT STATEMENT?
THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE IT TO YOU
AGAIN. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S
CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCE AS
WELL. SO UM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
WE'RE GOING TO GET THE LANGUAGE
AND WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS. SO
YOU MIGHT TRY AGAIN. AND THEN
THE NEXT THING THEY'RE GOING TO
GET IS A REQUEST. I'M SURE FROM
UM, FROM THE TWO OF US, UM OR
SOME LANGUAGE TO FIX THIS
PROBLEM, BECAUSE EITHER EITHER
WE ALLOW YOU THE LANGUAGE. MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE
NECESSARY TO GET THE INFORMATION
FROM THE FBI. OR WE SIMPLY
DELETE THE REQUIREMENT IF IT'S
NOT POSSIBLE, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE
A REQUIREMENT. WITH LANGUAGE
THAT DOESN'T WORK. SO WHY DON'T
YOU TRY AGAIN AND THEN WE'LL TRY
FOR YOU? YES I APPRECIATE THAT.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST
REGISTRANTS NEW REGISTRANTS THAT
WE HAD WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO
FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION AND
INDICATED ON THE APPLICATION
THAT HE HAD SOME CRIMINAL
ACTIVITIES. AND WHEN WE GOT THE
REPORT BACK FROM DOJ IT WAS A
CLEAR REPORT, SO WE WERE GOING
TO LET HIM THROUGH EXCEPT ON THE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WAS HE WAS, UM
HE SPENT EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON
FOR MONEY LAUNDERING, WHICH
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DEFENSE,
ESPECIALLY IN OUR INDUSTRY. SO
WE REALLY DO NEED THAT LANGUAGE
. WELL THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LAST
TIME I CHECKED IS THE ATTORNEY
FOR THE STATE AGENCIES, NOT THE
LEGISLATURE. BUT THE STATE
AGENCIES, SO PERHAPS THEY NEED
TO START FUNCTIONING LIKE THE
ATTORNEY FOR THE STATE AGENCY,
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THE
LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. NOTHING TO ADD TO
THAT. ANY UH, QUESTIONS.
COMMENTS? NOPE. NOPE. NOPE.
THANK YOU. CHAIR ROCK. YES JUST
REAL QUICKLY FROM THE BACKGROUND
OR, UM, IT STATES THAT YOU DO
NOT HAVE ANY INTERNAL EMPLOYEES.
BUT YOU USE A, UH AH ADVOCATION
STRATEGIES. GROUP AND CAN YOU
EXPLAIN? UH WHY? AND HAVE YOU
PUT THAT OUT FOR AN RFP? AND
WHAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND,
HAVING SERVED ON THE MOST SENIOR
PERSON IN THE CALIFORNIA TAX
EDUCATION COUNCIL, AND I
REMEMBER THAT ISSUE CAME UP MANY
, MANY YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY
LOOKED INTO, UM, HAVING OUR OWN
STAFF. BUT IT WAS PROHIBITIVELY
EXPENSIVE. WE NEEDED, UH, RETAIL
SPACE COMMERCIAL SPACE. HOWEVER
THE ADMINISTRATOR HIRE STAFF AND
I HAVE INSURANCE THAT IT
ENTAILED AND WE JUST COULD NOT
AFFORD TO DO SUCH AND SO WE'VE
ELECTED TO MAINTAIN AND
ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP US WITH
THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS.
PROCEED TECH, SO IT'S STILL BUT
YOU STILL LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT IS LESS EXPENSIVE TO USE.
ABSOLUTELY YES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. REMEMBER JACKSON. YEAH,
JUST A QUESTION. YOU HAVE. IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY
TO HAVE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD THAT
ACTUALLY DO NOT LIVE IN
CALIFORNIA. THAT IS CORRECT. WHY
WHY ARE WE ALLOWING FOLKS
OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA TOO?
BEYOND OUR BOARDS. TO BE A
MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA TAX
EDUCATION COUNCIL. IF YOU'RE NOT
A CEATEC REGISTERED PREPARE, YOU
CAN ALSO BE A MEMBER FROM A
PROFIT OR NONPROFIT TAXING
AGENCY SUCH AS H AND R. BLACK
LEADER LIBERTY TAX SERVICE. THEY
IN TURN, WE HAVE NO, UM,
OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHO
THEY SELECT TO SERVE ON THE
COUNCIL. AND SO WE HAVE TWO
COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ACTUALLY
RESILIENT RESIDE OUTSIDE THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT THEY
ARE FROM A, UM. BEER FROM AN
APPOINTING NONPROFIT FOR PROFIT
BUSINESS. THAT ACTUALLY HAS
OFFICES OUTSIDE THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE'VE NEVER HAD A
PROBLEM WITH HAVING MEMBERS FROM
THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT'S RARE THAT
WE HAVE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT
AGAINST THIS YEAR. IT'S TWO
MEMBERS. OKAY? YEAH. MIGHT BE
SOMETHING. TAKE A LOOK AT. UM I
MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT
IN TERMS OF IS YOU HAVE A
CHANDAR BLOCK. YOU HAVE JACKSON
HEWITT LIBERTY TAX RIGHT. THEY
ALSO HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD,
WHICH IS ALSO MAYBE I'M NEW, BUT
YOU KNOW SOME RED FLAGS FOR ME,
BUT, UM, DEFINITELY SOMETHING.
ARE WE REQUESTING, AT LEAST FROM
THESE FOLKS? THAT, UH, THIS
CORPORATIONS THAT THEY. CHOOSE
SOMEONE IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE
I'M SURE THEY HAVE A LOT OF
FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE NOT
. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
CERTAINLY CAN LOOK INTO. OKAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
REMEMBER INTERESTING ISSUES TO
DISCUSS. STAND THERE. THANK YOU
. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
RESPONSE OF FIGHTING. GOOD FOLKS
. I KNOW I'VE MET SOME H AND R
BLOCK FOLKS FROM CALIFORNIA SO I
KNOW THEY'RE HERE. UM MY
QUESTION HAS TO DO ABOUT THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION, UM,
THAT YOU HAVE AS AN ENFORCEMENT
TOOL KIND OF A PRIMARY
MECHANISM. UM. TO FOR FOLKS TO,
UM ADDRESS OR REMEDY PROBLEMS
THAT THEY SEE. UM WITH, UM UH, A
MEMBER OF C TECH. AND I'M I
UNDERSTAND PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION. I THINK THAT THAT THAT
IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO HAVE BUT
WHEN YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT
INCOMES, AND YOU LOOK AT
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, UM. IN
MANY CASES IN THE WORK THAT I'VE
DONE PRIOR TO COMING HERE,
REPRESENTING LOW WAGE AND
UNWAVERING COMMUNITIES. UM OR
FOLKS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
AND UM TIMES THERE ISN'T THE
RESOURCE IS TO FIND A PRIVATE
ATTORNEY TO TAKE THESE CASES.
AND SO WHEN UH, THERE'S AN
APPEARANCE THAT A PERSON'S RIGHT
OR OR THEY'VE BEEN AGREED IN
SOME WAY. THEY JUST SIMPLY HAVE
TO SWALLOW IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. SO I
WONDER IF YOU FEEL THAT IS THE
MOST ADEQUATE TOOL TO HAVE FOR
ENFORCEMENT IS SORT OF A PRIMARY
AND SOUL MECHANISM, UM, GIVEN
THE EXPENSE THAT'S INVOLVED, UM
WITH INVOKING IT. YES GOOD
MORNING. I'M CEATEC SPECIAL
COUNSEL AND I WANT TO SAY THAT
IN ADDITION TO THE PRIVATE RIGHT
THERE IS, OF COURSE, THE ABILITY
FOR ANYONE TO BRING A COMPLAINT
TO SEE TECH TECH HAS THEIR
INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S TWO
DIFFERENT SORT OF PIECES OF
ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S
DONE BY F. T B IS DONE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE NOT REGISTERED. SO THEY
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO
SHOULD BE REGISTERED WITH CEATEC
BUT ARE NOT ADDITIONALLY, CEATEC
HAS THEIR OWN POLICIES,
PROCEDURES AND LAW THAT ALLOWS
THEM TO TAKE ACTION IF THEY WERE
TO RECEIVE. UM FOR EXAMPLE, SOME
KIND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT
FRAUDULENT ACTION, SO IT WOULD
BE, UM, DUAL ACTIONS. YOU KNOW,
THERE COULD BE THE PRIVATE RIGHT
TO ACTION. BUT CEATEC COULD ALSO
TAKE ACTION AGAINST THAT
INDIVIDUAL. AND HOW DOES THE
PUBLIC GET ACCESS TO THAT
COMPLAINT PROCESS? IS THERE AN
OUTREACH THE HOTLINE? HOW DOES
THAT WORK? AND I WILL. YEAH. ON
OUR WEBSITE. WE HAVE A COMPLAINT
FORM THAT THEY WOULD FILL OUT
AND THEN MOST OF THE TIME IT
GOES TO FRANCHISE TAX BOARD, AND
IF IT'S SOMETHING RELATED TO
SETI TECH, THEY WOULD LET US
KNOW BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE
GO ONLINE, AND THEY JUST FILL
OUT THAT FORM. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES SEEING NONE.
ALICE TAKE IT TO THE PUBLIC.
ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY
WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE C
TECH? UM CALIFORNIA TAX
EDUCATION COUNCIL. REVIEW
PROCESS. HMM. JUST REMINDER.
EVERYONE GETS TWO MINUTES. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS ANA
HASSELBLAD WITH UNITED WAYS OF
CALIFORNIA AS WELL AS WITH THE
KELLY AT SEA COALITION, AND I
JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE
SUBMITTED A MEMO WITH A SERIES
OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE
THE TAX PREPARATION ACT SECTION
OF THE BNP CODE. SOME OF OUR
SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS WOULD
HELP PROTECT LOW INCOME TAX
FILERS FROM FRAUDULENT OR
PREDATORY PRACTICES, INCLUDING
IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY WITH FEE
DISCLOSURES. UH STANDARDIZING
THE STATEMENT OF FREE TAX PREP
ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES.
PUBLICIZING COMPLAINTS FOR
CONSUMER REVIEW, REVISITING AND
IMPROVING THE STANDARDIZED EXAM.
CLOSING LOOPHOLES FOR EXEMPT
PERSONS REVIEWING THE BOND
AMOUNT AND TRANSPARENCY OF THAT
AND PROTECTING FILERS SEEKING
REFUND ANTICIPATION. LOANS ARE
MEMO OUTLINES THESE EVERYTHING'S
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE WOULD BE
EAGER TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS
WITH THIS BODY AS WELL AS THE
REPRESENTATIVES PRESENTING TODAY
WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS. UM AS
THE SUNSET PROCESS MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THAT. I KNOW YOU'VE HAD
RECENT MEETINGS WITH WITH MY
TEAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS. APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS HERE IN
THE HEARING ROOM. MY NAME IS
KAREN DAVENNY. I'M FROM MODESTO
, CALIFORNIA. I STRONGLY SUPPORT
THIS BOARD. IT HAS DONE
TREMENDOUS WORK ON HELPING
PEOPLE GET A FAIR, CLEAN TAX
RETURN PREPARED. PLEASE KEEP
THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK. I
DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS IN THE ROOM. LET'S KICK
IT OVER TO THE OPERATOR OPERATOR
. IS THERE ANYONE ON THE LINE
WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE
CALIFORNIA TAX EDUCATION
COUNCIL? IT IS AND GENTLEMEN AT
THIS TIME IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT
, PLEASE HIT ONE, THEN CYRIL ON
YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU'LL BE
GIVEN YOUR LINE NUMBER, WHICH WE
WILL USE TO IDENTIFY YOU FOR
YOUR COMMENT. SO ONCE AGAIN,
PLEASE PRESS ONE, THEN ZERO IF
YOU HAVE A COMMENT. AND THERE'S
NO ONE QUEUING UP FOR QUESTIONS
. PLEASE GO AHEAD. SURE. THANK
YOU, MR OPERATOR. SO WITH THAT,
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THE
NEXT BOARD. THANK YOU. SO
KINDLY. THANK YOU. EVERYONE
APPRECIATE LOOK FORWARD TO
CHATTING MORE AS WE MOVE THROUGH
THE PROCESS. SO NEXT UP. WE HAVE
THE CALIFORNIA ACUPUNCTURE
BOARD. AND WE'VE GOT A HANDFUL
OF FOLKS I THINK WE'VE GOT JOHN
HARA BD IN RUBEN OSORIO. AMY
MORE TECHY AND BENJAMIN BOUDIA
VÚI AREA. READY WHEN YOU ARE
THANKS SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
HONORABLE CHAIRS WRAPPED IN
BERMAN. MEMBERS OF THE JOINT
COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATIVE
STUFF. IT IS BOTH AN HONOR AND A
PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. MY NAME IS
REUBEN OSORIO. I AM THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATE BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE. I AM
JOINED HERE TODAY WITH MY
COLLEAGUES, DR AMY MCCONAUGHEY.
LICENSE ACUPUNCTURIST IN THE
MORE MEMBER IN BEEN BUDDHA, OUR
EXECUTIVE OFFICER. ARE MORE
PRESIDENT JOHN CARIBBEAN, HAD A
PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED ENGAGEMENT
THAT HE CANNOT RESCHEDULE. THE
BOARD IS COMPROMISED OF SEVEN
MEMBERS FOR PUBLIC AND THREE
PROFESSIONALS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE
A VACANCY FOR A PUBLIC MEMBER
AND THREE PROFESSIONAL. WE HAVE
FOUR. VACANCY FOR PUBLIC MEMBER
THE ACUPUNCTURE BOARD REGULATES
JUST UNDER 12,000 LICENSEES. THE
BOARD HAS 37 APPROVED
CURRICULUMS. I THOUGHT AT 26
EDUCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS.
51 TUTORIAL STUDENTS. AND 340
FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
PROVIDERS. THE BOARD'S MISSION
IS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA BUT BY UPHOLDING
ACUPUNCTURE PRACTICES.
ACUPUNCTURE PRACTICE STANDARDS
THROUGH THE OVERSIGHT AND
ENFORCEMENT OF THE OCCUPANT.
SHAL LIGHT SINCE YOUR ACT I NOW
TURN THIS OVER. TO BOARD MEMBER
DR MOTTAKI TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THE WORK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
SINCE OUR LAST REVIEW. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE
CHAIRS, WRATH AND BERMAN,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE
STAFF. I'M HUMBLED TO APPEAR
BEFORE YOU AGAIN SINCE I HAVE A
LAST THE SUNSET HEARING FIVE
YEARS AGO. THINGS OF THAT TIME,
A BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND A
STAKEHOLDERS HAVE WORKED CLOSELY
AND DILIGENTLY TO ADDRESS
PREVIOUS CONCERNS, RAISED THE
ADS THOSE HEARINGS AND ADDRESS
CRITICAL STRATEGIC PLAN ITEMS.
SOME OF THESE GREAT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE
TRANSITIONING TO COMPUTER BASED
TESTING FOR THE LICENSING EXAM,
OBTAINING THE FIRST DEFEAT
INCREASE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS TO
SUPPORT OFFICE SERVICES AND
IMPLEMENTING A NEW LICENSING
SYSTEM TO ALLOW OUR LICENSES. TO
RENEW AND PAY ONLINE. I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK THE STAKEHOLDERS
AND THE LAWMAKERS, AS WELL AS OF
A BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF OF ALL
CARING OUR PROGRAM THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC AND SUPPORTING OF AN
ACUPUNCTURIST AS A PART OF THE
ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE DURING THAT
TIME. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER
AFFAIRS AND THAT THEIR OFFICES O
I S AND A SOLID FOR HELPING
FACILITATE AND CARRY OUT OUR
REMOTE MEETINGS DURING THE
PANDEMIC. THIS, TOO, WAS AN
INFLUENCE IN CENTRAL I WILL NOW
INVITE OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MR
BADIA TO PROVIDE A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR MONTEK
E. GOOD MORNING. HONORABLE
CHAIRS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. UH WE ARE HUMBLED, AS
DR MCKEE SAID TO BE HERE BEFORE
YOU AND TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
DIALOGUING WITH YOU ON HOW WE
CAN CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. PRESIDENT.
ARAB INDIAN SENDS HIS REGARDS
AND APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING ABLE
TO ATTEND IN PERSON AND PLEASE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH WANT TO OPEN
IT UP TO COLLEAGUES FOR ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THAT
COLLEAGUES MIGHT HAVE NOT. BEING
ANY AT THE MOMENT. WHY DON'T WE
OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC AND
THEY'RE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ON
THE LINE, AND THEN I MIGHT HAVE
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
AFTERWARDS. ANYBODY HERE IN THE
ROOM WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE
CALIFORNIA ACUPUNCTURE BOARD?
WE? WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON THE
WAY UP. JUST A REMINDER YOU GET
TWO MINUTES. MINUTES GOES BY
PRETTY FAST. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MY NAME IS NEIL MILLER.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CALIFORNIA ACUPUNCTURE
TRADITIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
I PERSONALLY HAVE INTENDED 80%
OF THE ACUPUNCTURE BOARD
MEETINGS SINCE 1989. SO I
CONSIDER MYSELF SOMEWHAT OF AN
EXPERT HAVING BEEN TO ALL OF ITS
JOINT LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
COMMITTEE HEARINGS. THIS BOARD
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THEIR
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE LAST
SUNSET REVIEW HAVE DONE A GREAT
JOB. THEY'VE REALLY ELEVATED THE
BOARD AND THEY'VE LISTENED TO
THE SUNSET REVIEW
RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE'S STILL A
LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. BUT
I CAN SAY IS THE ACUPUNCTURIST
AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE. THEY'VE
REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB TO LISTEN
TO THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU'VE
MADE AND IT'S IMPROVED THE
REGULATION. UH AND THE
EFFICIENCY OF THEIR JOB. UM
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT
WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE REPORT
REGARDING THE CALIFORNIA AND THE
N C. C O M EXAM. UM THEY'RE VERY
SIMILAR. AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN
GOING ABOUT THIS. WE'VE BEEN
TRYING TO MAKE THIS CHANGE OR
DISCUSS THIS CHANGE FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS. CURRENTLY WE'RE BOTH
WAITING FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL
ANALYSIS, AND I THINK THAT THAT
WOULD GIVE THE BOARD A BETTER,
UH, CLEAR PICTURE ON HOW TO
EVALUATE THE TWO THINGS. UM.
NUMBER 12 ON HERE. TALKS ABOUT
OTHER PROFESSIONS DOING
ACUPUNCTURE. UM ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT IT'S CALLED DRY
NEEDLING. IT'S A FORM OF
ACUPUNCTURE. AND I JUST WANTED
THE MEMBERS WHO WERE IN THE
COMMITTEE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
IN MANY STATES, THE PROFESSIONAL
PTS AND, UM OTHERS HAVE.
DISCREDITED ACUPUNCTURE AND
SAYING THAT DRY NEEDLING IS
SOMETHING THAT IS SCIENTIFIC.
AND THAT ACUPUNCTURE SOMETHING
BASED IN ANCIENT RITUALS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, AND I JUST
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT GOING
FORWARD BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE LEGISLATION TALKING ABOUT
DRY NEEDLING. WE DON'T WANT TO
KEEP OTHER PEOPLE FROM DOING
ACUPUNCTURE, BUT YOU SHOULD CALL
ACUPUNCTURE, ACUPUNCTURE. IT'S
WHAT IT IS. UM THE NUMBER 13
TALKS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE
SHOULD BE MORE PROFESSIONAL
MEMBERS. I DO THINK THAT THERE
SHOULD BE, UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE
THREE PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS AND
THEY ALL REPRESENT THE ASIAN
COMMUNITY. IT'S NOTHING AGAINST
THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, BUT MORE
THAN HALF OF THE ACUPUNCTURISTS.
ARE NOT ASIAN, AND THE MAJORITY
OF STUDENTS ARE NOT ASIANS, SO
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD LOOK AT AND HAVING A MORE
DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE
REPRESENTING THE PROFESSION. UM,
CONTINUING EDUCATION. UM.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEW
FEES AND THE NEW FEES ARE ARE
QUITE OUT OF LINE. WITH THE
NATIONAL STANDARD. I KNOW MY TWO
MINISTERS COMING UP. I'LL TRY TO
RUSH THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT POINT. UM THE NCC
, UM, DOES A GREAT JOB DOING
THEIR CONTINUING EDUCATION? UH,
AND I HAVE A COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS OF THE TWO POINT BY
POINT. AND I THINK THAT, UM,
INVESTIGATING GOING TO, UH, N C
. C O. M TO DO THE CONTINUING
EDUCATION EITHER ALONGSIDE THE
CAB OR INSTEAD OF THE CAB WOULD
SAVE THE STATE A WHOLE LOT OF
MONEY AND IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE
EFFICIENT AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC
REASONS AND I CAN OUTLINE THEM.
BUT MY TWO MINUTES WILL BE
UPSIDE. DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT
UP. APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR THREE
MINUTES IS UP. SO MAYBE IF YOU
CAN, IF YOU CAN JUST WRAP UP
THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. AND
THEN FEEL FREE TO YOU KNOW,
PLEASE SUBMIT ANY INFORMATION
THAT YOU HAVE TO THE COMMITTEE,
EITHER EITHER IN PERSON TODAY OR
THROUGH THE MEETING WITH STAFF
SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I
MADE IN ARE YOU IN HERE. THE
THING ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE
ASSISTANCE IS A GREAT IT'S A
GREAT IDEA. IT GIVES STUDENTS A
CHANCE TO WORK WHO HAVE PASSED
THE CLEAN NEEDLE TECHNIQUE. UM
AND LASTLY, TO WRAP IT UP. OUR
PROFESSION HAS BEEN TRYING TO
INCREASE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION
FOR DECADES. AND IT STARTED IN
THE 19 NINETIES, WHEN WE HAD A
LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AND AS WE
GET MORE AND MORE INTEGRATED
INTO CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE, AND
I THINK IT'S A AN ISSUE BECAUSE
NOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
POSTGRADUATE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS,
AND THE STATE HAS NO INPUT, SO
THERE'S NO STANDARDIZATION OF
THE EDUCATION, POSTGRADUATE. AND
I THINK IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC, UM THE STATE SHOULD HAVE
A ROLE IN THE AMOUNT OF
EDUCATION. I HAVE BEEN IN
PRACTICE 40 YEARS AND MY STUDENT
GETS OUT OF SCHOOL NOW, AND
SHE'S CALLED THE DOCTOR. AND I'M
NOT. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TITLE.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT PROTECTING THE
PUBLIC. AND HAVING THE PUBLIC
KNOW THAT SOMEBODY WHO'S CALLED
THE DOCTOR WHO JUST GRADUATED
SCHOOL MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME.
AS I DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE
EXTRA TIME. I APPRECIATE IT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE. THANKS FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION FOR DECADES. AH,
SO ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS IN THE AUDIENCE,
SEEING NONE. WE'RE GOING TO KICK
IT OVER TO THE PHONE LINES. MR
OPERATOR. IS THERE ANYONE ON THE
PHONES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
TO THE CALIFORNIA ACUPUNCTURE
BOARD? AS A REMINDER IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A COMMENT
, PLEASE PRESS ONE, THEN ZERO AT
THIS TIME, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE
OF LINES IN QUÊ. ONE MOMENT,
PLEASE. WELL WE WILL OPEN UP
LINE NUMBER 10. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE. APOLOGIES TO THE CHAIR.
THE COMMENT I HAVE IS FOR A
PREVIOUS ITEM ON THE TAX
PREPARATION ACT, MISS STILL
COMMENT CLOSED THAT PART OF THE
HEARING. IF POSSIBLE, WOULD YOU
PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS TO
THE COMMITTEE THROUGH OUR
WEBSITE, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE
THAT THAT WE CONSIDER THOSE AS
WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SUNSET
REVIEW PROCESS THIS YEAR? YES
THANK YOU. AND I'LL SEND THAT
VIA VIA EMAIL FROM ANNA JOHNSON
FROM JOHN BURTON. ADVOCATES FOR
YOUTH ON BEHALF OF FOSTER YOUTH
WHO HAVE HAD PREDATORY PRACTICES
AND TAX. UH TAXI SERVICES IN
CALIFORNIA FURTHER LEAVING THEM
IN POVERTY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ALWAYS HAPPY TO HEAR FROM J
BAY APPRECIATE YOU. WE'LL GO TO
LINE 11. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. GOOD
MORNING CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ELIANA BINDER,
REPRESENTING GLIDE SOCIAL
SERVICE PROVIDER AND FRANCISCO
AND THE MEMBER OF THE CALI
COALITION, COMMONEST ALSO
REGARDING THE TEXT, TAX
PREPARATION ACT. MY APOLOGIES.
UM. BUT WE JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS A MEMO
SANDTON. UM, FROM THE COALITION
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. UM UM AND
WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME TO REVIEW THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
TO HELP PROTECT LOAN COMPILERS.
THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK
YOU. LINE EIGHT. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE. HELLO THIS IS SARAH HART
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOMA
AND ACUPUNCTURE, PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION. AND FIRST WE'D
LIKE TO THINK THE CABS FOR, UM,
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC AND
REPRESENTING ACUPUNCTURE, AND
WE'D LIKE TO ALSO ASKED TO
REVIEW THE CE. YOU SCHEDULED TO
MAKE IT EASIER ACCESSIBLE FOR
THE EU PROVIDERS AND TO BROADEN
THE RANGE OF THE YOUTH FOR
ACUPUNCTURE, INCLUDING LOOKING
AT THE NCC GÒM. COMPARISON AND,
UM, ALLOWING THE N P. C O M. C
YOU TO APPLY TO CALIFORNIA AND
WOULD ALSO REQUEST THE COMMITTEE
TO LOOK AT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC
FROM OTHER PROFESSIONS USING
ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES UNDER THE
TERM DRIVING THE LINK, AND
THERE'S NEIL MILLER STATED.
OTHER PROFESSIONS MIGHT
INTERVIEW LEGISLATION REGARDING
DRIVING, YELLING AND UM, WE ARE
CONCERNED THAT WE WANT THE
PUBLIC TO BE PROTECTED FROM LACK
OF STANDARDS WITH THEIR TERMS
RIDING AWAY AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND PLEASE KEEP THE
ACUPUNCTURE BOARD. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS. ANY ADDITIONAL FOLKS
CALLING IN. MR CHAIR. WE HAVE NO
ONE ELSE IN CUBA AT THIS TIME.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LET'S
BRING IT BACK TO COLLEAGUES FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. UH I'LL
JUST ASK A COUPLE OF FOLKS
BROUGHT UP THE CONTINUING
EDUCATION ISSUE. BOTH BOTH THE
FEE STRUCTURE. UM ALSO, I DON'T
KNOW IF THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN
THIS ISSUE OF POSSIBLY USING THE
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
, YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE CONTINUING EDUCATION
ISSUE. CERTAINLY CHAIR UH, IT
WAS BROUGHT UP IN TERMS OF THE
FEE STRUCTURE. WE DID INSTITUTE
. INCREASED FEES FOR CE
PROVIDERS CONTINUE EDUCATION
PROVIDERS. THEY NOW ARE, UH AT
$500 A YEAR TO APPLY AND TO
RENEW AND WE'VE ALSO INSTITUTED
NEW FEE, WHICH IS A $10 PER HOUR
OF CONTINUING EDUCATION THAT THE
C E PROVIDERS LOOKING TO OFFER
TO OUR LICENSES. UM WE HAVE BEEN
DOING THIS SINCE THE INCEPTION
OF THE BOARD THAT IS REVIEWING
AND APPROVING CONTINUE EDUCATION
PROVIDERS AND COURSES, AND THIS
WAS. THERE WAS NO PER COURSE FEE
CHARGED BEFORE, SO IT WAS ONLY
THE PROVIDER. FEES THAT WERE
ACTUALLY FINANCING ARE
SUPPORTING THIS ASPECT OF THE
BOARD. UM SINCE THEN, THESE FEES
ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THE FULL
FUNCTION OF THE C E UNIT AND
LICENSING UNIT AND WE HAVE NOT
HAD A SHORTAGE, OF COURSE, IS
AVAILABLE IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING IS AS A MATTER OF
FACT, AND SINCE THE FEE HAD THE
PER UNIT HAS BEEN INSTITUTED.
WE'VE APPROVED OVER 20,000 HOURS
OF CONTINUING EDUCATION. FOR OUR
LICENSES THAT ARE WITHIN
CALIFORNIA'S SCOPE AND
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, SO
YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT
AVAILABILITY. WE ARE NOT AND
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE NOT
CONCERNED AS WELL. UH, AND THAT
SENATOR. YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE
CURIOUS QUESTION. UM, AND IT HAS
TO DO WITH THE DIVERSITY OF THE
SECTOR AND. AND HOW DOES THE
BOARD COMMUNICATE IN TERMS OF
LANGUAGES WITH, UM, INTERESTED
LICENSE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED
IN LIKE BEING LICENSED IN PART
OF THIS PROFESSION, IS IT? UM
YEAH, JUST IN TERMS OF JUST
MATERIALS. WEBSITES HOW? HOW
HOW? WHAT WHAT ARE THE LANGUAGES
THAT YOU'RE USING THAT FOLKS CAN
ACCESS CERTAINLY, UM, ENGLISH IS
OUR PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF
COMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES. WE DON'T
HAVE MATERIALS AND OTHER
LANGUAGES. WE USED TO HAVE A
CONSUMER BROCHURE, WHICH WE WERE
IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING AND
NOW FELT IT WAS ASKED, PROVIDING
TOO MUCH INFORMATION THAT
PERHAPS THE INDUSTRY SHOULD BE
PROVIDING INSTEAD OF THE BOARD.
UM AND SO THOSE WERE OFFERED IN
CHINESE AND KOREAN, AND WE'LL
LOOK AT OFFERING ADDITIONAL
MATERIALS LIKE THAT FOR CONSUMER
GUIDANCE IN THE FUTURE. BUT
PRESENTLY THE BOARD OPERATES
WITH TRANSLATORS. IF WE NEED TO
TALK TO CONSUMERS CALLING IN OR
APPLICANTS OR LICENSES THAT DO
NOT HAVE ENGLISH AS A FIRST
LANGUAGE. ADDITIONALLY THE EXAM
ITSELF IS OFFERED IN THREE
LANGUAGES. ENGLISH, CHINESE AND
KOREAN THANK YOU. GREAT ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
SEEING THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I
THINK THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY'S
HEARING. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
SENATORS AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
FOR JOINING AND PARTICIPATING IN
ALL THE QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE
WE'LL HAVE MANY MORE
CONVERSATIONS AS THE YEAR MOVES
FORWARD AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING EVERYONE WHO CAN BE THERE
ON THURSDAY. THANKS.