[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6552614,"mediaKeyId","5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4","parentId",5114028,"title","Assembly committee moves bill to place autism service provider qualifications in Business and Professions Code","audioSeconds",792,"startMs",2058000,"endMs",2850000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4&start=2058&end=2850","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4/thumbnail_2058000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552614/California/Assembly-committee-moves-bill-to-place-autism-service-provider-qualifications-in-Business-and-Professions-Code","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552614-b201d76cc2b1372e9b8c6f85363d3850/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994027&Signature=SX7knO1esQkEaeJuzL8BltUoaToXvfS3yRKzhISiDPXTwqahkx7Pm-PZJLcfVovDw~EfFQtxQ39OWyCUJBi7ruqSmOY9A79xoZd1VCR-42e3Ajx9zaK~s0Dd8Bb4VILzYuMTbH-speqTH5hkViwiz2u5XKF4z75YMv2JpcOvdZyEYQgvLlw9t3m2kPjC1vdkwPW5N64iAOM5SKpufnIKkM2pOq5YXu1O9BZeX09GMnoEMmPejBcQy8Uk7CxOPsiMjiCvfLHt--MjEQHuRC8Lu8JVCRGZcIpbXHDdeLFLfFVK0FaBhxulwdZB5Qow6kjnmAARN6hezjNyQ9ct9MAwYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","Sen. Sandra Valadares introduced SB 402 to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee to move existing statutory qualifications for qualified autism service providers—qualified autism service professionals, paraprofessionals and related designations—from the Health and Safety and Insurance codes into the Business and Professions Code.

The move would not change current qualification standards, Valadares said, but would place the provisions alongside other healing-arts professions to create “parity for all providers” and allow the Business and Professions Committee to have oversight of future changes. “This bill will move the existing requirements for qualified autism service providers, qualified autism service professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals from the health and safety insurance code to the business and professions code,” Valadares said during her presentation.

Supporters including Penny Schenken, a board-certified behavior analyst representing the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA), and Melissa Cortez of the Council of Autism Service Providers said the bill is a technical relocation and “will not create new regulatory burdens” or reduce access to services. CalABA counsel Rachel Bleacher described SB 402 as a “technical cleanup” that aligns oversight by placing these qualifications where other provider standards are codified. Multiple parents and clinicians also spoke in support.

Opponents and commentators raised concerns that the change offers no measurable benefit to families or enhanced accountability. Claire Kerrigan, representing the Autism Business Association, told the committee that it was “unclear whether the proposed changes…are necessary or beneficial” and warned the transfer could inadvertently create roadblocks to access if not handled carefully. Anna Cuevas, who holds a QABA credential, urged the committee to add QABA recognition in parity with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), saying failure to do so could “establish a monopoly” on credential recognition and reduce practitioner choice.

Committee members voiced support for the bill’s intent while noting the measure does not alter provider qualifications. Assemblymember Crowell said constituents in public schools backed the measure for consistency and to preserve future conversations about oversight. Valadares closed by noting her long record of autism advocacy and emphasizing the bill’s limited scope.

The committee voted to pass SB 402 to the Committee on Health. The transcript records an oral roll call in which multiple members registered “aye.” The committee staff analysis and witnesses’ testimony were referenced during consideration.

SB 402 does not itself institute new licensing or licensing thresholds; supporters and the committee repeatedly described it as a statutory relocation for alignment and oversight rather than a substantive policy change.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Business and Professions Committee (1)","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Sandra Valadares introduced SB 402 to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee to move statutory qualifications for qualified autism service providers from the Health and Safety and Insurance codes into the Business and Professions Code.","taxTitle","California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California","taxId",17099,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6552604,"Committee advances bill to raise minimum fines and reserve cap for contractor enforcement",353,4688000,5041000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4&start=4688&end=5041","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4/thumbnail_4688000.jpg","/articles/6552604/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-raise-minimum-fines-and-reserve-cap-for-contractor-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552604-3c8fb8865e8edbab85dc79b65c1caf9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994027&Signature=Wq7-qaaeOAKs9o9a3YjQq9wblN90xawyPdQjorKG5yMvWHcjbIHdVVTTinzMbcgBH3eAWP~aIR6hwfHj35CoknNM0WcXpgrfvus8nW3qb5DXlfdqVMsZrqvk7fqEmCLcJLeylhB9jq5jZQIdU6PI20ob3cAn1rELpV5-9gnFWu6ce1UbOw3KaivAiwhuHxCBNTNwm4-9cCz6EunvgLZBzuA99gZMR-Nq6tZH4lkicU9xJS9pu6O1BppdNcpP5yyJRniKKvATt8uMnzaRJESomwtr0j-lC0p6HE41VoMyJOvh6jAy1r5RjkqLLackeWe2H7SwQNpLwJHGSVxIbcDpWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Susan Archuleta presented SB 779 to increase minimum enforcement fines for contractor-law violations and to raise the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) fund reserve cap from six months to 12 months.

Archuleta said penalty ranges currently have wide gaps between minimum and maximum fines because the legislature raised maximums in recent years but did not adjust minimums. She noted that the existing $200 minimum for unlicensed activity has not changed since 1990. The bill would set a $500 minimum for general violations where the maximum is $8,000 and a $1,500 minimum for significant violations, including unlicensed activity, where the maximum is $30,000.

Rebecca May, representing CSLB, said citations often include civil penalties up to $30,000 plus potential restitution, and that the reserve cap increase would allow CSLB to maintain essential services in a downturn. May told the committee CSLB projects a 6.7-month reserve next fiscal year and that raising the cap avoids an immediate shortfall if license renewals decline.

No witnesses testified in opposition. The committee voted to pass SB 779, as amended, to the Appropriations Committee. Members who spoke in favor described the measure as strengthening consumer protection and ensuring the board’s enforcement actions better reflect the seriousness of violations.","SB 779 (Archuleta) would set higher minimum enforcement fines for contractors and raise the Contractors State License Board's reserve cap from six to 12 months; committee passed the bill, citing consumer protection and fiscal stability for CSLB.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6552609,"Committee advances bill to hold online platforms accountable for illicit cannabis and hemp sales",1769,2887000,4656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4&start=2887&end=4656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114028-4f58765cdfc64fb237dc7989175251b4/thumbnail_2887000.jpg","/articles/6552609/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-hold-online-platforms-accountable-for-illicit-cannabis-and-hemp-sales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552609-77c54e03056d9498b82a764a77549edb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994027&Signature=gjDGXsdb3OilUZ5oW4Qi7OgbwkuAQRu---HsHYHdCs15EjuOw93ss7Yzn5ryrk~sEXommwh3P1MnsLofzWXqrYGDHcu~eRiPBIPk3-4QtIW8Jt3J1ucI9XEYelDECblFhwDjHSx4prZak~Y4D07hJMmoUjNMgILIA02FGnwl1iEWj0~43XoiUqsL0l62lWh4pN8EwwiO1jxmNu2-OU51SIc2DUc75Kf19FRHkGn81Z88H9yQGXwrTmnPbSyqUHep4Hw9Jqlxu~JxvXapIjewqNZeRm~R3525Cg2m0A5DqbZ00chJRUhbZwYX5VhTV3RAnm6rdTLXVyKBLF0bUcvkOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Scott Wiener presented SB 378, a measure aimed at reducing the online sale of unregulated intoxicating cannabis and hemp products by creating platform accountability and disclosure obligations for sites that facilitate such sales.

Wiener told the Assembly Business and Professions Committee that illicit sellers operate on widely available platforms and deliver products, often with no age verification, directly to consumers. “We set up a legal cannabis market and industry in California subject to many regulations… The products are tested for safety and health,” he said, arguing that an unchecked illicit online market undercuts lawful operators and risks public health.

Supporters included the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council, whose legislative director Kristen Heidelbach cited untested products and worker and public-safety concerns, and Tiffany Devitt of Canaccraft, who referenced a study the sponsors called “The Great Hemp Hoax” documenting products that were marijuana rebranded as hemp or synthetic designer drugs. Local governments, county health executives and cannabis industry groups also testified in support, saying the bill closes a regulatory blind spot focused on online commerce.

Opponents urged narrowing the bill’s definitions and liability reach. Rand Martin of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable said good-actor hemp businesses have been harmed by broad enforcement steps and asked for nuance so compliant hemp sellers are not “obliterated.” TechNet’s Jose Torres and counsel for eBay warned the bill’s broad language could sweep in mapping services, search engines, social networks and payment platforms that do not directly sell illicit products and would impose strict liability on platforms with only incidental roles.

Committee members asked about enforcement mechanics; Wiener said the bill currently included a private right of action for harmed parties and that the author would refine standing and other implementation details in subsequent committees. Members also discussed alignment with AB 8 and other efforts intended to define acceptable hemp products and integrate compliant hemp into regulated supply chains.

The committee passed SB 378 to the committees on Privacy and Consumer Protection and on an additional referral (triple referred). The chair noted unresolved scope and implementation questions and said the author had committed to continue work with stakeholders as the bill moves through subsequent committees.","SB 378 (Wiener) would create liability and disclosure requirements for online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit or intoxicating cannabis and hemp products; committee passed the bill while opponents urged narrowing definitions and protections for compliant hemp businesses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly committee moves bill to place autism service provider qualifications in Business and Professions Code

Committee advances bill to raise minimum fines and reserve cap for contractor enforcement

Committee advances bill to hold online platforms accountable for illicit cannabis and hemp sales