Structural Pest Control Board approves pursuit of two statute changes, moves video-inspection fee to OAL

The Structural Pest Control Board at its January meeting authorized staff to seek two statutory changes to the Structural Pest Control Act and moved a proposed increase to the board’s video-inspection fee into the formal administrative review process.

The board directed staff to seek language amending section 8572 to allow the board greater flexibility in issuing probationary licenses — expanding the maximum probationary term the staff may seek from the statutory three years to a possible five years if needed — and to amend section 8610 so that the board may refuse company registration for individuals who are on probation in addition to those previously revoked or suspended. Susan (last name not specified), the board’s executive/staff representative, presented the proposals and answered board questions about scope and drafting.

Why it matters: the two changes would give the board more discretion when regulating licenses and company registrations. The proposed change to 8572 would permit a longer probationary period in certain cases; the 8610 change would add probation as a ground to deny company registration.

Board action and votes

A member moved to authorize staff to pursue an author (legislative sponsor) for section 8572 with the option to extend probationary authority up to five years; the motion was seconded and carried. The board then made the related motion on section 8610 to add probation as a disqualifier for company registration; that motion also passed. The motions were discussed briefly and called for public comment prior to each vote.

Votes at a glance

- Section 8572 (probationary license duration): motion to seek legislation to permit up to five-year probationary licenses — approved (board vote called and recorded as yes by members present). - Section 8610 (company registration restriction): motion to seek legislation adding probation as a ground to refuse company registration — approved (board vote called and recorded as yes by members present).

Video-inspection fee: administrative filing and hearing

Board staff confirmed that a proposed 50¢ increase to the board’s video-inspection/inspection-activity fee was submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on Jan. 4 and that a public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19 at the board’s Sacramento office. If the rulemaking receives no adverse comments during the public comment/hearing process and clears OAL review, staff said they remain hopeful for an operative date of July 1, 2019. The proposal would raise the fee by $0.50, making the smallest video-inspection fee $3.00.

Other procedural context

During the meeting staff and board members discussed timelines and next steps for sending the statutory language to the Legislature (finding an author), and confirmed public-notice and administrative-review steps for the fee change. Susan said staff had completed the pre-review steps that allowed filing with OAL and that the Feb. 19 public hearing is the next formal step.

Ending

Board members and staff said they would return with draft language, requested author names, and rulemaking materials in subsequent board packets. The board invited public comment at multiple points; no amendments to the board motions were recorded on the floor at this meeting.