Medical Board adopts rule to recover costs for petitions for penalty relief, adds initial down‑payment and ALJ review

The Medical Board of California voted to adopt modified emergency rulemaking that requires petitioners seeking penalty relief to pay an initial review fee when they file and allows an administrative law judge (ALJ) to recommend any additional adjudication fee for board approval. Board staff said the change responds to public comments that an up‑front fee equal to the board’s full historical adjudication cost would be an excessive barrier.

At the board’s quarterly meeting in Fresno, staff presented an alternative to the originally noticed regulation after receiving nine written comments during the 45‑day comment period. Under the modified proposal staff described at the meeting, petitioners seeking reinstatement would submit an initial review fee when filing; petitioners seeking modification or early termination of probation would submit a smaller initial…