Public commenter presses board for faster CE distance-learning rule changes; DCA outlines agency reorganization and travel guidance

A public commenter urged the board Aug. 1 to accelerate changes to continuing-education (CE) rules that would permit distance-learning alternatives to in-person “live” hours, and Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) legislative affairs staff described an agency reorganization, telework directives and new travel guidance that staff said will affect board operations.

Marcus Struts, who spoke during the public comment period, told the board he was “super frustrated with the slow unbelievably slow movement on the change of the CE rules and regs to change the live requirement to a option of live requirement for Zoom requirement, so for distance learning.” Struts said the effort began in October 2022, and he urged the board and staff to “establish a pathway to make changes on something this simple,” saying the delay was harming licensees who travel and pay high course fees.

“We are eagerly awaiting the big change of getting the fees that are a $116 per hour, for a CE course, and getting that situation rectified,” Struts told the board, asking the board to push the Department of Consumer Affairs or otherwise “put a fire under someone so someone gets moving.”

During staff presentations earlier in the meeting, Ian Gallaher of DCA’s Legislative Affairs Division briefed the board on several statewide items: Governor Newsom’s reorganization plan (splitting Business, Consumer Services and Housing into two agencies effective July 1, 2026), an executive order raising in‑office hybrid telework expectations (which was subsequently delayed in part by labor agreements), updated state travel guidance limiting out‑of‑state travel to mission‑critical activities, and the department’s annual report published this summer.

Gallaher said the two new agencies will become operative on July 1, 2026, and that DCA is coordinating workgroups to prepare the logistics for the transition. On telework, he noted an executive order initially requiring state employees to increase on‑site presence from two to four days per week in July 2025; labor agreements negotiated later delayed that requirement for much of the department for an additional year. On travel, Gallaher said all out‑of‑state travel must be justified as mission critical and routed through the DCA budget office at least eight weeks in advance.

Why this matters: Distance‑learning CE rules affect the cost and availability of continuing education for licensees; public complaints underscore practitioner frustration while staff say the rule package is nearly ready for public notice. Separately, the DCA reorganization and travel/telework policies affect board staffing, meeting logistics and budget planning ahead of the board’s upcoming sunset review.

Ending: Board staff said the distance‑learning regulatory package was drafted and approved by the DCA director and only awaited final agency signoff for public notice; the board affirmed it will continue to press for timely implementation and promised to update stakeholders when the package goes to public comment.