Board supports bill to prioritize licensure applicants certified as descendants of American slavery

The Board of Behavioral Sciences voted to support Assembly Bill 742 (Eloweri), a bill that would require boards under the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to prioritize licensure applications submitted by persons certified by a proposed Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery. The board’s staff advised that the bill is contingent on companion legislation (SB 518) establishing the certification bureau.

Staff explained that existing laws already permit expedited processing for certain groups (service members, refugees, military spouses) and that AB 742 would add certified descendants as a prioritized category. Roseanne told the board the bill’s definition of "descendant" and the certification process would come from SB 518, which would be established within the California Department of Justice. "The bill is contingent on another bill becoming enacted," she said, and noted the bill includes a four-year sunset tied to the bureau’s operative date.

Staff estimated the board processes about 17,000 applications annually and used a working assumption that roughly 3% of applicants might qualify under the new category (about 500 applicants per year); staff concluded the workload increase would likely be minor and absorbable by current resources. The board discussed how expedited applications are processed in a single expedited queue and noted that if the number of expedited requests rises substantially, timelines could be affected.

Stakeholder comments were mixed: Shanti Ejren of CAMFT said the organization is looking at prior prioritization bills and typically takes neutral positions on such measures due to potential processing delays; other commenters supported helping applicants navigate licensing barriers rooted in historical discrimination.

The board voted to support AB 742.