BPPE reports increased complaints and inspections, cites enforcement gains

Compliance Chief Eric Casita told the advisory committee the compliance unit completed 115 inspections in the first quarter and is on track for roughly 460 inspections this fiscal year, a projected 7% increase year over year. He said unannounced inspections have continued to identify more instances of noncompliance compared with announced inspections.

"Unannounced inspections continue to identify more instances of noncompliance compared to announced inspections," Casita said, and staff will monitor trends as the year progresses.

Complaint Investigations Chief Daniel Rangel reported an uptick in complaints: the bureau averaged about 260 complaints per quarter in FY24–25 but received 348 complaints in Q1 of FY25–26. Rangel noted the unit completed 337 investigations in Q1 and reduced the number of cases older than one year (from 221 at one point to 139 at the close of Q1).

"In quarter 1 of the current fiscal year 25–26, we've received a notably higher volume of 348 complaints," Rangel said, and he described plans to analyze closure reasons and continue addressing a rising referral volume.

Discipline Unit Manager Renee Walters summarized enforcement activity: three enforcement actions in Q1 (including one default revocation and one adopted proposed decision resulting in revocation), 62 citations issued during the quarter, and 50 unapproved-activity citations in FY24–25. She described citation referral categories (internal administrative, inspection-based, and investigation-based) and noted that most current referrals are inspection-based.

Committee members praised reductions in case age and thanked staff for sustaining unannounced inspections and workshop outreach.