WHEREAS, Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by boards, bureaus, and committees within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including, among others, accountants, acupuncturists, architects, athletes, automotive mechanics, barbers and cosmetologists, chiropractors, contractors, court reporters, dental hygienists, dentists, doctors, engineers, fiduciaries, marriage and family therapists, nurses, optometrists, osteopathic physicians and surgeons, pharmacists, physical therapists, physician assistants, private schools, private guards and other security-related jobs, psychologists, real estate salespersons, respiratory care practitioners, speech pathologists, social workers, and veterinarians; and

WHEREAS, The mission of many of the boards, bureaus, and committees within the Department of Consumer Affairs is to protect people and promote the health and safety of Californians by licensing and regulating various professions and vocations; and

WHEREAS, Hardworking individuals must often complete hundreds of hours of professional training requirements, including, but not limited to, education, schooling, internships, or other requirements, to meet professional licensing standards in order to be licensed by the State of California and pursue their profession; and

WHEREAS, Existing law establishes fees for initial licenses, initial temporary and permanent licenses, and original licenses for those various professions and vocations; and

WHEREAS, Licensees may spend up to hundreds of dollars for their initial license and pay thousands of dollars to the State of California over their career to maintain their license, not including the thousands of dollars licensees may pay to put themselves through training or educational programs to gain the skills needed for a given profession; and

WHEREAS, Existing law requires that licenses issued to certain licensees expire at 12 a.m. on either the last day of the birth month of the licensee or at 12 a.m. of the legal birth date of the licensee during the 2nd year of a 2-year term if not renewed, yet fails to provide licensees the opportunity to prorate their initial licensing fee to the specific amount of time actually licensed; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature supports an equitable licensing fee policy that would prorate license fees based on how many months have elapsed between the initial issuance of a license and the time of renewal, as stated in Assembly Bill 483 of the 2015–16 Regular Session, which was unanimously passed by the Senate and passed by the Assembly with a vote of 78-0; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes the important and valuable services that those licensees provide to the state; now, therefore, be it