Board begins 2026 sunset review preparations, names three-member committee

The California Board of Occupational Therapy on March 6 launched preparations for its upcoming sunset review — the periodic legislative review of the board’s work that determines whether the board’s authority will be extended.

Board leaders said the board must deliver a report by the end of 2025 so the legislature can consider the matter in hearings during 2026; statutes tied to the board’s authority expire on Jan. 1, 2027, if not extended. The board selected a small committee to prepare the sunset materials and guide staff work on the report.

Beata Morcos, board president, said the materials in the meeting packet were included to help members unfamiliar with the process. Richard Bookwalter, a past board president who described his prior experience before the legislature, warned the group that the day-long hearings can be intense: "They ask questions — are you managing your money well? Are you doing the job the legislature has asked you to do?" Bookwalter said. He urged staff to prepare thoroughly because the legislature routinely asks repeated questions and expects follow-up in the next cycle.

The board agreed that a compact committee would be preferable under current meeting rules; members identified that current committee sizes must conform to Brown Act/forum rules. Board members agreed the initial committee would include Richard Bookwalter, Christine Wittlisbach and Board President Beata Morcos. The board noted there are two currently vacant board seats (one OT and one OTA) and that membership may change if appointees are seated prior to the committee’s substantive work.

Clarifying details and timeline from the discussion: - Deadline and hearing: Board staff indicated the legislature will act in 2026; statutory sunset occurs Jan. 1, 2027; staff signaled the board must prepare report materials before the end of 2025 so the legislative cycle can proceed. - Committee size: The board discussed public-meeting and committee-size limits and preferred a three-or-fewer member committee to avoid forum/public-meeting complications. - Preparation steps: Staff will pull forward materials used for the 2021 sunset review and update data requested by the legislature; the committee will plan outreach to stakeholders and prepare required questionnaires, surveys and the formal report.

The board did not finalize a formal appointment motion recorded in the minutes during this session; members verbally agreed on the three-member composition and asked staff to continue preparing materials and to return with a formal committee report at future meetings.