California Public Utilities Commission Issues Proposal For New Autonomous Vehicle Programs

By Rachel Rockwell On November 19, 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote on whether to adopt Commissioner Shiroma’s October 15, 2020, Proposed Decision Authorizing Deployment of Drivered and Driverless Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service (Rulemaking 12-12-011). The Proposed Continue reading

Department of Managed Health Care’s Financial Solvency Standards Board Quarterly Update – August 2020

By Meena Kaypour On August 19, 2020, the Department of Managed Health Care’s (DMHC) Financial Solvency Standards Board (FSSB) held its quarterly meeting via Zoom. DMHC staff provided a number of updates to FSSB, namely the Department of Health Care Continue reading

State Bar of California Board of Trustees Approves Appointees to Closing the Justice Gap Working Group

By Kirstin Jensvold-Rumage On November 2, 2020, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees Executive Committee approved the Board’s Appointments Liaisons’ recommended slate of two officers and sixteen members to the Closing the Justice Gap Working Group (CTJG Working Continue reading

California Board of Accountancy Contemplates National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s Amendments to the Uniform Accountancy Act Model Rules

By Connor Greth At its July 23, 2020 meeting, [Agenda Item I.I], the California Board of Accountancy (CBA) considered the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) “exposure draft” of proposed amendments to the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) Model Continue reading

Veterinary Medical Board Proposes Fee Increases for Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians

By Jordan Bourque On September 25, 2020, the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) published notice of its intent to amend sections 2070 and 2071 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, to increase certain fees associated with veterinarian and Continue reading

Governor Newsom Signs SB 855 Into Law, Requiring Health Plans Cover Medically Necessary Treatment of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

By Alex Ruf SB 855 (Wiener), as amended  August 24, 2020, and as it applies to the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), adds sections 1367.045 and 1374.721, and repeals and adds section 1374.72, to the Health and Safety Code Continue reading

Dental Board of California Planned Implementation of AB 2138 Modified, Comment Period Extended

By Jonathan Greenbergs On May 18, 2020, the Dental Board of California (DBC) published modified text for regulations to implement AB 2138 (Chiu) (Chapter 995, Statutes of 2018), and on June 2, 2020, extended the public comment period from June Continue reading

Public Utilities Commission Considers Regulating the Cost of Telecommunications Services Used by Incarcerated People

By Madison Orcutt At its meeting on October 8, 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously voted to adopt an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to Consider Regulating Telecommunications Services Used by Incarcerated People (R.20-10-002) [Agenda Item 10]. The CPUC Continue reading

AB 376 Requires New Student Loan Ombudsman to Refer Relevant Complaints to Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education

By Madison Beck AB 376 (Stone), as amended August 20, 2020, adds Title 1.6C.10 (commencing with section 1788.100) to the Civil Code, and amends and repeals various sections of the Financial Code to create a “Student Borrower Bill of Rights” Continue reading

Board of Pharmacy’s Community Pharmacy Staffing Regulation Takes Effect

By Anna Schwartz On September 15, 2020, OAL approved the Board of Pharmacy’s proposed regulations on community pharmacy staffing. The regulations add section 1714.3, Title 16 of the CCR to establish standards for community pharmacy staffing levels. The regulation implements Continue reading