Dental Board of California Proposes Regulations to Implement AB 2138 (Chiu) to Establish Substantial Relationship Criteria for Criminal Convictions and Evaluating Rehabilitation of Applicants and Licensees

By Katie Abajian On February 18, 2020, the Dental Board of California (DBC) published notice of its intent to amend sections 1019 and 1020, Title 16, of the CCR, to specify criteria regarding criminal convictions and rehabilitation of licensees convicted Continue reading

Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Bankruptcy Case, In re PG&E, Case No. 19-30088-DM (Bankr. N.D. Cal.), Has Reached Monetary Settlements and Governor-Approved Reorganization Agreements

By Strider Kachelein On February 27, 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), pursuant to a settlement agreement, imposed a $2.137 billion fine on Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to cover state expenditures and corrective actions with respect to Continue reading

Board of Registered Nursing’s Executive Officer Resigns Amidst Sexual Harassment Allegations

By Shana Sobel On February 14, 2020, the Executive Officer (EO) of the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), Dr. Joseph Morris, officially resigned. Loretta Melby was sworn in as acting EO at the February 20, 2020 Board meeting.  The Sacramento Continue reading

Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) issues an All Plan Letter encouraging health plans take actions to help slow the spread of COVID-19

By Taylor C. Brewer On March 12, 2020, acting general counsel, Sarah Ream, of the Department of Managed Health Care (Department) issued a letter to all health care service plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter addresses the Continue reading

Federal Court Dismisses Lawsuit Regarding Decommissioning of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) for Lack of Jurisdiction

By Marcus Friedman On December 3, 2019, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California issued an order in Public Watchdogs v. Southern California Edison Company, Case No. 19-CV-1635 JLS (MSB) (S.D. Cal. 2019), (1) granting defendant’s Continue reading

State Bar of California’s 2020 Governance in the Public Interest Task Force to Focus on Risk-Based Regulation

By Alaina Dye At its November 14, 2019 meeting, the State Bar’s 2020 Governance in the Public Interest Task Force voted to focus its efforts and report on proactive regulation, also known as risk-based regulation, which seeks to prevent lawyers Continue reading

Department of Insurance Issues Cease and Desist Order to Health Care Sharing Ministries Aliera Healthcare, Inc. and Trinity Healthshares, Inc. for Misleading Consumers and Operating Without Authorization

By Marie McDonald Hulen On March 8, 2020, the California Department of Insurance issued a Cease and Desist Order against Aliera Healthcare, Inc. and Trinity Healthshares, Inc. for violating California law by misleading California consumers regarding their products and transacting Continue reading

Board of Pharmacy Fines and Disciplines AmerisourceBergen for “Excessive” Opioid Shipments

By Stephanie Mendivil On January 22, 2020, the Board adopted a Stipulated Settlement and Disciplinary Order which fined AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation for shipping “excessive” amounts of opioids and other controlled substances to pharmacies across California. The Board also publicly reproved Continue reading

SB 1115 (Wilk), Regulating Veterinary Care and Animal Welfare at Animal Blood Banks, Referred to Committee

By Christine Lambert On February 19, 2020, Senator Wilk introduced SB 1115 (Wilk) which would amend, add, and repeal various sections of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to commercial blood banks for animals.  Senator Wilk introduced a similar bill Continue reading

San Francisco Superior Court Grants Summary Adjudication in Favor of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for Racial Discrimination Claim, but Denies Summary Judgment for Commissioner and Former President

By Michael J. Melton On February 20, 2020, after hearing oral arguments in the matter of Clopton v. Cal. Pub. Util. Comm’n, No. CGC-17-563082 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Francisco), Judge Ethan P. Schulman granted the CPUC’s Motion for Summary Adjudication Continue reading