Committee briefed on pending bills affecting exams, prioritization and emergency waivers

Department of Consumer Affairs staff briefed the Landscape Architects Technical Committee on multiple pending legislative measures that could affect licensing exams, applicant prioritization and emergency authority.

Laura Zuniga summarized the bills in the meeting packet. AB 667 (in Assembly Appropriations on the suspense file) would require an option for applicants who cannot read, speak or write English to use an interpreter at no cost for verbal/oral components of state‑administered exams; the bill, as introduced, originally applied to national examinations as well but has since been narrowed to explicitly cover the California supplemental examination (CSE). Zuniga and committee members noted that offering interpreters could impose costs or operational burdens; the department and multiple boards are reviewing implementation and vetting requirements for interpreters.

AB 742 (Assembly Appropriations) would require boards within DCA to prioritize applicants who are descendants of enslaved people; a companion bill would establish a commission to determine eligibility. Staff said prioritization programs can shift workload and timing for other applicants and raised DCA legal concerns about potential litigation and constitutional issues; one departmental option under discussion is for the state to assume related litigation risk rather than individual boards.

SB 470 (on the Senate floor) would continue COVID‑era updates to the Bagley‑Keene Open Meeting Act that allow flexibility for teleconferenced advisory‑body meetings and reduce older teleconference notice requirements. Staff described this as an operational change that maintains a physical accessible location while allowing remote participation.

SB 641 (Sen. Ashby) would give DCA and the Department of Real Estate additional authority during declared emergencies to waive or exempt certain exam‑eligibility, renewal, continuing‑education and display requirements, and to reduce delinquency fees for affected licensees. Staff said that would streamline emergency responses and reduce the need for ad hoc legislative fixes in future disasters.

Committee members asked about cost allocation for interpreter services, whether applicants could provide their own vetted translators, and how prioritization would affect other candidates; staff said the department's legislative office is coordinating DCA‑wide input and cost analysis. No formal committee position or vote was taken; staff said they will continue to monitor the bills and provide updates.