Bureau posts regulation workshops and begins DCA‑wide criminal‑history rulemaking; several bills could affect licensing

Bureau staff briefed the advisory council on several rulemaking and legislative items: regulatory workshops on household mover licensing, a DCA‑wide rulemaking package to implement AB 2138 (criminal history and rehabilitation criteria), and a set of state and federal bills the bureau is monitoring.

Fauna Lamar, a bureau policy manager, said the bureau will host a household mover regulation workshop on March 25 (in conjunction with an applicant workshop on March 26) in Irvine to discuss licensing requirements, perceived licensing “challenges” and permit fees. The workshop is open to the public and includes a teleconference option; details were posted on the bureau website and distributed via the bureau’s listserv.

Yefana (policy staff) and related staff described the DCA‑wide rulemaking required by AB 2138, effective July 1, which restricts agencies’ discretion to deny licensing solely on the basis of prior criminal history and requires consideration of rehabilitation evidence. The bureau’s proposed regulations reorganize determination and rehabilitation criteria, add theft/fraud/dishonesty crimes to the list of substantially related offenses for consumer‑protection reasons, and add an appeal process. The proposed language for both the “bare” and “hefty” program rules was approved for a 45‑day public comment period beginning Feb. 21; the public comment deadline was April 6.

Staff also reviewed other pending legislation they were tracking: AB 1616 (expungement posting and license restoration provisions), AB 1850 (independently owned business definition proposals relevant to AB 5 amendments), AB 2185 (would require issuing a California license when an applicant holds an out‑of‑state license in good standing subject to California‑specific exam requirements), SB 878 (would require the bureau to publish current and average license processing times on its website) and a federal bill to adopt TB 117‑2013 as a national standard for furniture flammability (Senate bill 3551 as referenced). Staff noted some bills were spot bills and that the department’s legislative office handles formal positions; the bureau will continue to monitor and report.

Why it matters: AB 2138’s rules change how criminal history is evaluated in licensing decisions, which could affect applicants across bureau programs; AB 2185 could create reciprocity tensions if out‑of‑state licensing standards differ from California requirements.

Ending: Staff said they are awaiting further DCA legal review on the household mover regulatory package and will post additional materials as they complete departmental review and respond to public comments.