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CSLB public affairs details wildfire outreach, hotline and Spanish‑language materials
Summary
The board's Public Affairs Office described outreach at disaster recovery centers, a dedicated disaster hotline, Spanish‑language videos and translated consumer guides aimed at protecting wildfire survivors from contractor fraud.
At the meeting, the Contractors State License Board's Public Affairs Office reported steps taken to support homeowners and promote consumer protection following recent wildfires.
Catherine White, the board's chief of public affairs, described onsite assistance at disaster recovery centers and a disaster hotline dedicated to wildfire survivors. Staff said they staffed disaster recovery centers in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Altadena and operated a local assistance center in Camarillo after a November fire. The board was told the agency maintains a dedicated disaster hotline during recovery periods (staff reported a 12‑week disaster hotline operating Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and that staff updated a Disaster Help Center page on the CSLB website with local resources and safety guidance.
Public Affairs staff also described a suite of consumer‑facing materials: a new flyer for contractors working in disaster zones, an updated "rebuilding after a disaster" video in production, and Spanish language videos and translated materials. Staff said they revised Spanish exam item banks to Latin American Spanish and are adding an English toggle for tool and material names in Spanish exams to reduce comprehension issues for Spanish‑speaking candidates.
The office reported a substantial social‑media and subscriber audience: staff said the CSLB subscriber list is about 193,000 and that public information center call volumes spiked after the wildfires. White noted the public information center handled more than 18,000 calls in January (staff said that compared with typical monthly volumes of 11,000 to 13,000), and that call wait times were generally kept below the board's six‑minute target for 2024 despite the spike.
The Public Affairs update was informational; no board action was required. Staff said outreach and translated consumer guides emphasize that homeowners should hire licensed contractors for projects that require permits or workers, regardless of project cost.
