California State Board of Pharmacy Modifies Language of Proposed Regulation Related to Inventory Reconciliation in Response to Public Comment

By Steven Funk At its December 2, 2021 meeting, the California State Board of Pharmacy (the Board) discussed the pending Inventory Reconciliation regulation and clarified that the proposed regulation intends to require licensees to complete a full inventory reconciliation for Continue reading

State Auditor Releases Report Finding State Officials are Failing to Hold California’s Electric Utility Companies Accountable for Wildfires

By Justin Dalton On March 24, 2022, the Acting California State Auditor, Michael Tilden, released an audit finding that state officials are failing to hold California utility companies accountable for preventing fires started by those companies’ equipment. The Audit found Continue reading

Interim Suspension Order Issued Against California Horse Racing Board Equine Medical Director, Jeff Blea, Pending Full Investigation and Formal Hearing

By Stella Gerson On January 28, 2022, Judge Nana Chin, Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), granted the Veterinary Medical Board’s (VMB) Petition for Interim Suspension and Cease Practice Order against the license of Jeff A Continue reading

Court Orders For-Profit College, Ashford University, to Pay Over $22 Million in Civil Penalties

By Mackenzie McCoy In The People of the State of California v. Ashford University, Case No. 37–2018–00046134–CU–MC–CTL (March 3, 2022), the San Diego County Superior Court held that for-profit giant Ashford University violated the law by misleading students as to Continue reading

Board of Registered Nursing Continues to Undergo Contentious Sunset Review

By Hamdy M. Masri On March 14, 2022, the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) published its 2022 Sunset Review Report in preparation for its third Sunset Review Oversight Hearing before the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and the Senate Continue reading

California Board of Accountancy Takes Oppose Unless Amended Position on AB 646 Relating to Disclosures of Expunged Convictions

By Frannie Winters AB 646 (Low), as amended January 24, 2022, is a two-year bill that would add section 493.5 to the Business and Professions Code to require a licensing board under the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), including the Continue reading

Legislature Introduces Bill Requiring Cultural Competency Training for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

By Sarah Dahm AB 2194 (Ward), as introduced February 15, 2022, would add sections 4202 and 4231 to the Business and Professions Code to require that one hour of the 30 continuing education hours required for license renewal as a Continue reading

State Bar’s Chief Administrative Officer Provides Board with Summary and Update on Case Management System Data Breach

By Andrea Lavelle At the March 24th Board of Trustees meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Steve Mazer provided an update on the recent Odyssey case management system breach that exposed over 300,000 State Bar case records. Mazer gave an overview of Continue reading

Department of Managed Healthcare Proposes Rulemaking Action on Annual, Quarterly, and Monthly Financial Reporting Requirements

By Yusra Serhan On December 24, 2021, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) published notice of its intent to adopt Rule 1300.84.03; amend and renumber Rules 1300.84.06; amendment to Rules 1300.84.2 and 1300.84.3; and renumber Rules 1300.84.06 to 1300.84.1, Continue reading

The California Public Utilities Commission Votes to Approve Decision Revising General Order 156, Supplier Diversity Program, Adopting a Voluntary Procurement Goal for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprises

By Benjamin L. Sheinman On April 7, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 5–0 to approve D.22-04-035. This decision, proposed by Commissioner Rechtschaffen, revised the Commission’s Supplier Diversity Program, set forth in General Order (GO) 156, to incorporate Continue reading