Attorney General of California Files Lawsuit Against the U.S. Department of Education for Alleged Rollback of Federal Oversight of For-Profit Schools

By Madison Beck On January 15, 2021, in People of the State of California v. United States Department of Education, et al., Case No. 21-cv-00384 (N.D. Cal), Xavier Becerra, the Attorney General of California, filed a complaint on behalf of Continue reading

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to License Debt Collectors and Buyers

By Stephanie Mendivil SB 908 (Wieckowski), as amended August 24, 2020, amends sections 1788.11 and 1788.52 of the Civil Code, and adds Division 25 to the Financial Code, titled “Debt Collection Licensing Act,” relating to debt collectors. Specifically, the bill Continue reading

Legislature Enacts California Consumer Financial Protection Law and Reorganizes and Renames the Department of Business Oversight As the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation  

By Stephanie Mendivil On September 25, 2020, Governor Newsom signed a series of bills to establish a California consumer financial protection watchdog agency, modeled after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, that is designed to expand the state’s authority and Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission’s Independent Watchdog Recommends $166 Million Fine Against Pacific Gas & Electric (R 18-12-005)

By Tristan Stidham On October 30, 2020, the Public Advocate’s Office (PAO), the consumer protection watchdog of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), recommended a $166 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for failing to warn customers of Continue reading

Two New Studies Reveal the California Bar Exam Cut Score’s Racially Disparate Impact, and State Bar of California Continues its own Study of the Bar Exam

By Juan M. Villalvazo In October 2020, two studies analyzing the various ways in which California’s minimum bar exam passing score (“cut score”) on the Bar exam impacts examinee outcomes. Both studies were conducted by the same authors, and were Continue reading

Medical Board of California Advises Licensees of New Prescribing and Reporting Rules for Controlled Substances Effective January 1, 2021

By Jonathan Padua On October 2, 2020, the Medical Board of California (MBC) issued a notice to its licensees reminding them about two new requirements, effective January 1, 2021, regarding prescribing and reporting on controlled substances. With respect to prescribing, Continue reading

Contractors State License Board Legislative Committee Considers Board Sponsorship of Legislation to Authorize the Board to Discipline Licensed Contractors for Illegal Dumping

By Sabrina Barr At the Contractors State License Board’s (CSLB) Legislative Committee meeting on November 4, 2020 (Agenda Item E), the Committee reviewed and discussed whether to accept Assemblymember Bill Quirk’s request that the Board sponsor his proposed legislation that Continue reading

Department of Insurance Enforces Regulations Over Bail Bonds as Discussions of Reform Move Forward

By Hannah Ohman On July 15, 2020, the Department of Insurance (DOI) issued a press release stating that an investigation by the Department of an unlicensed immigration bond company led to a $5.5 million settlement. After an investigation and subsequent Continue reading

AB 890 Allows Nurse Practitioners to Expand Their Scope of Practice Despite Medical Board of California’s Opposition

By Ellen Williams AB 890 (Wood), as amended August 28, 2020, amends sections 650.01, 805, and 805.5 of, and adds Article 8.5 (commencing with section 2837.100) to the Business and Professions Code to authorize a two-tiered framework for certified nurse Continue reading

Ninth Circuit Court Sides with Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation and Licensure of Outsourcing Facilities Created Under Federal Law

By Anna Schwartz Fusion IV Pharm., Inc. v. Sodergren, 809 F. App’x 438 (9th Cir. 2020). On June 17, 2020, the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s grant of judgment on the pleadings Continue reading