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Committee advances bill to modernize restaurant codes, sparking debate over self‑certification
Summary
AB 1915 would update health and facility codes to reduce costs and delays for small restaurants, including allowing self‑certification for routine equipment replacement; industry groups backed the bill for cost relief, while the Contractor State License Board and some senators raised safety and inspection concerns. The committee passed the bill (11‑0) and sent it to housing and other referrals.
The committee advanced AB 1915, a measure intended to modernize California’s food facility code and reduce the regulatory burden on neighborhood restaurants.
Senator Rubio presented the bill on behalf of Assemblymembers Gabriel and Wicks, saying the measure updates outdated facility requirements around restrooms, ventilation and equipment, and creates streamlined permitting for qualified contractors to self‑certify routine equipment installations. Supporters from the Independent Hospitality Coalition and small business owners described how mandatory upgrades and protracted permitting costs can jeopardize small operations.
Opposition focused on the self‑certification provision. Rebecca May of the Contractor State License Board said allowing contractors to bypass local inspections could divert responsibility to the state licensing board without additional enforcement resources and could create public‑safety risks if installations (electrical or gas) are improperly performed. Several senators expressed concerns about the self‑certification provision while supporting other elements of the bill and asked the author to work with CSLB to refine language.
Authors said they were open to further refining self‑certification limits to exclude electrical or gas upgrades and to include penalty provisions; the committee recorded a favorable vote (11‑0) and referred the measure to subsequent committees for additional review.
