State Bar’s Annual Fee Bill Would Pave the Way for Improving Attorney Misconduct Standards

By Andrea Lavelle   SB 211 (Umberg), as amended September 2, 2021, is the State Bar’s annual “fee bill.” This bill would amend sections 6140 and 6141 of the Business and Professions Code to authorize the Bar to assess 2022 Continue reading

Veterinary Medical Board Votes to Eliminate the California State Board Examination and Temporary Licensee Requirements

By Jordan Bourque At its January 28, 2021 meeting [Agenda item 8], the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) voted on various legislative and regulatory needed to eliminate the California State Board Examination (CSBE) and temporary licensee requirements. This decision comes after Continue reading

Department of Consumer Affairs Further Extends Series of Licensing Waivers Pertaining to the Medical Board of California During State of Emergency and Prioritizes Complaints Against Licensees Who Divert COVID-19 Vaccines

By Ellen Williams In December 2020 and January 2021, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Director, Kimberly Kirchmeyer, issued a series of orders extending the deadlines for licensing waivers issued as a result of Governor Newsom’s March 30, 2020 State 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

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

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

The Contractors State License Board Loses Its Apostrophe, Sees New Reforms with the Enactment of SB 1474

By Sabrina Barr SB 1474 (Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development), as amended August 26, 2020, is an omnibus bill that amends a number of sections of the Business and Professions Code, including 39 sections pertaining to the Contractors Continue reading

Department of Insurance Issues Cease and Desist Orders to Protect Consumers from Illegal Extended Warranty Contracts

By Jennifer Wilczynski Between April and October of 2020, the California Department of Insurance (DOI) issued multiple cease and desist orders preventing unlicensed businesses from illegally selling Vehicle Service Contracts (VSCs), or extended warranties. VSCs typically provide extra coverage for Continue reading