Committee of Bar Examiners Receives and Files Technical Report on the October 2019 First-Year Law Students’ Exam

By Halie Turigliatti At its January 31, 2020 meeting, the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) voted to receive and file its psychometric consultant’s Technical Report on the October 2019 First-Year Law Students’ Examination. The report includes Continue reading

Contractors’ State License Board Takes Steps Towards Outsourcing Exam Administration

By Mariela Romo At its December 12, 2019 meeting, the Contractors’ State License Board (CSLB) voted to pursue action to outsource CSLB exam administration and pursue legislation that would grant CSLB authority to outsource exam administration. CSLB is currently responsible Continue reading

Under New Proposals, California Public Utilities Commission Could Revoke Pacific Gas & Electric’s License if Utility Operates Unsafely

By Strider Kachelein On February 18, 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued I.19-09-016, a ruling setting forth assigned Commissioner proposals “relating to the application of state law to the proposed plan of reorganization for Pacific Gas and Electric Continue reading

State Bar of California Analyzes “Public Interest Drift” Among Law Students as a Component of the California Justice Gap Study

By Madeline Rojer At the State Bar of California Board of Trustees’ January 23, 2020, meeting [Agenda item I], the staff presented key findings of the first-ever California Justice Gap Study, which gathered data on both California’s public civil legal Continue reading

California Board of Accountancy Implements AB 1521- New Licensing Fees, Email Requirements, and UPDATE Newsletter Availability

By Thomas Burke AB 1521 (Low) (Chapter 359, Statutes of 2019), now effective as of January 1, 2020, imposes a series of reforms on the California Board of Accountancy’s (CBA) licensees and applicants for licensure. The Board’s website alerts applicants, Continue reading

California State Bar Board of Trustees Creates Working Group to Consider Paraprofessional Program

By Alaina Dye At its January 24, 2020 meeting, the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees adopted a resolution directing staff to consult with the Board’s Access Liaisons to take steps to form a working group to develop recommendations Continue reading

Department of Managed Health Care Fines Health Plans $1.9 Million for Failing to Provide Care to California Enrollees

By Rayne Brown On December 18, 2019, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) announced an enforcement action against 12 health plans, imposing fines totaling $1.9 million for their failure to properly oversee a contracted medical group that was improperly Continue reading

Senator Gonzalez Introduces Equal Insurance HIV Act

By Marie McDonald Hulen SB 961 (Gonzalez), as introduced on February 10, 2020, known as the Equal Insurance HIV Act, would repeal and add sections 799.01 and 799.02, and add sections 799.03–799.10 to the Insurance Code. The California Department of Continue reading

Assemblymember Evan Low Introduces Legislation to Require Dentists to Conduct In-Person Examinations Before Approving Teleorthodontics Treatment

By Katie Abajian AB 1998 (Low), as introduced January 27, 2020, would amend section 1680 of the Business and Professions Code to make it unprofessional conduct for a dentist to diagnose and correct malpositions of human teeth or use orthodontic Continue reading

Department of Managed Health Care Director Approves Anthem, Inc.’s Acquisition of Beacon Health Options

By Taylor C. Brewer On February 5th, 2020, during a public meeting of the Financial Solvency Standards Board, Director of the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Shelley Rouillard announced her approval of Anthem, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Beacon Health Continue reading