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CSLB staff at Los Angeles disaster recovery centers as wildfire outreach continues; $529,000 reimbursement reported
Summary
CSLB said it has staffed disaster recovery centers to assist wildfire survivors, conducted sweep operations with partner agencies and prepared outreach materials; the board reported receiving $529,000 in general‑fund reimbursement for DRC costs and plans additional webinars on debris removal and rebuilding.
Registrar David Vogt updated the board’s executive committee on April 11 about CSLB outreach, enforcement and education in wildfire‑affected Los Angeles County. Vogt said CSLB deployed investigators to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and has conducted sweeps of burn areas with partner agencies to check for unlicensed activity and unsafe debris‑removal operations.
Vogt described enforcement priorities at DRCs as protecting consumers and ensuring hazardous materials are handled correctly. He said complaints often stem from hazardous‑waste bagging errors and from contractors operating without required hazardous‑material certifications. Vogt noted the board’s SWIFT investigators were conducting two sweeps per week in the affected areas and that the enforcement team had established an interagency referral process with Cal/OSHA for unsafe working conditions.
On education and outreach, Vogt said CSLB is conducting webinars with state and local officials about rebuilding and debris removal; the board scheduled a CSLB webinar focused on debris removal for April 22 and planned another webinar on rebuilding on April 17 with a state senator. Vogt also said the agency was updating public materials including a “fast facts” bulletin clarifying classifications authorized to perform debris removal and confirming required certifications for hazardous material removal.
Budget manager Stacy Paul told the committee that CSLB has received reimbursement for disaster response expenses. Paul said the agency has “received $529,000 in general fund reimbursement,” money that will offset costs from staffing and operating the DRCs.
Committee members and public commenters raised concerns about independent‑contractor misclassification, workers’ compensation coverage and the potential for fraudulent operators to exploit disaster conditions. Enforcement Chief Steve Grove said CSLB is coordinating with Los Angeles County District Attorney offices and other agencies to pursue unlicensed practice and fraud where appropriate.
Vogt said the board expects to post a contractor contact list for debris‑removal bids on the CSLB disaster help center page and to issue an updated fast‑facts bulletin ahead of permit‑heavy rebuild activity.
