Board approves EO classification change and pay increase after unanimous support

The California Acupuncture Board approved two motions affecting the executive officer (EO) position: reclassifying the EO position from salary level O to level N, and authorizing a salary increase of up to 4.9 percent (to the maximum of the new level) for the incumbent EO.

President Yongping Chen opened the item by reading an evaluation summarizing the EO’s performance, noting increased licensing counts and staff growth since the EO’s appointment. Board members and public commenters offered strong praise for the EO’s leadership and recommended a compensation adjustment to retain institutional knowledge and administrative capacity. Stakeholders including associations, university representatives and board members spoke in favor of the change.

Catherine Bachelor, a representative from the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) clarified the procedural steps: the board first must adopt a motion to change the position’s classification (level O to level N). The board then considered a motion to increase the EO’s salary amount (described in the meeting as a 4.9% increase to the maximum of the new level). Both motions were made, seconded and passed by roll call; all voting members recorded “yes.” Staff noted that the change will permit a raise for the EO within the newly adopted classification and that additional administrative processing steps follow state HR procedures.

The motions reflect the board’s assessment that the EO role has increased in complexity with a larger licensee population and added staff and program responsibilities. The board directed staff to implement the classification change and the approved salary adjustment through the appropriate state personnel processes.