DCA executive office outlines DEI work, training deadlines and Bagley-Keene remote-meeting limits

Yvonne Dorantes, from the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) board and bureau relations office, briefed the BSIS advisory committee on departmentwide initiatives including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, required trainings for board members, and changes to allowable virtual meetings under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.

Why it matters: the DCA update affects boards and advisory committees across the department by setting training expectations, use of DEI in strategic planning and by flagging changes to meeting modality allowed under state law.

Dorantes said DCA established a 12-member DEI steering committee last fall and has updated its strategic-planning process to embed DEI elements such as a DEI section in environmental scans, surveys and a short training video. The department will offer a 50-hour DEI certification through the University of Massachusetts for DCA—affiliated trainers; DCA trainers will complete the certification and expanded course offerings will be available beginning June 2023.

On required board training, Dorantes said all DCA advisory council and board members must complete harassment-prevention training; advisory council members take one hour of non-supervisory training; supervisors take a two-hour supervisory course. DCA—provided a mandatory trainings web page and instructions to register via the LMS learning-management system and offered staff contact information for assistance.

Dorantes also discussed Bagley-Keene changes and virtual meetings: legislation extended virtual meeting provisions only through July 2023; absent new urgency legislation, boards should be prepared to return to in-person meetings beginning June 1. She noted bill SB 544 (by Senator Laird) was introduced to remove certain teleconference requirements but lacks an urgency clause and would not take effect until Jan. 1 if passed.

Dorantes said a new federal portability law effective Jan. 5 allows service members and their spouses who hold professional licenses in another state to practice in California under certain conditions when relocating under military orders; she advised boards to refer inquiries to DCA legal affairs.

Ending: Dorantes asked advisory members to contact her or the DCA member-relations email for questions, and to use the LMS links for required training. The DCA annual report (covering 2020—22) is posted online and includes new metrics for military licensing.