20250AB__066793AMD INTRODUCED 2025-02-14 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-04-01 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-04-09 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-07-08 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-08-18 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-08-29 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-09-05 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Solache LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache

An act to add

Section to the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations. professions and vocations Professions and vocations: license examinations: interpreters. Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs, which is composed of various boards that license and regulate various professions. This bill would require various boards under the jurisdiction of the Department of Consumer Affairs, by January 1, 2027, to include an additional

section in a license application for an applicant to identify their preferred written, spoken, and signed languages. The bill would require each board, beginning on July 1, 2027, to conduct an annual review of applicants’ language preferences, and, by July 1, 2027, to also determine whether there is a substantial number of non-English-speaking applicants, as defined, who require the services of an interpreter.

The bill would require each board to report the determinations to the Legislature by January 1, 2028, and, beginning January 1, 2029, to annually report to specified legislative committees on the language preference data collected from license applications. MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 41. (

a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Board” means any board under the jurisdiction of the Department of Consumer Affairs, as specified in

Section 101, with the exception of boards within Division 2 (commencing with

Section 500). (2) “Interpreter” means a person who is fluent in English and in the necessary second language and who can accurately speak, read, and readily interpret the necessary second language, or a person who can accurately sign and read sign language. (3) “Substantial number of non-English-speaking applicants” means applicants who either do not speak English or who are unable to effectively communicate in English because it is not their native language, and who comprise percent or more of the total number of applicants. (

b) By January 1, 2027, each board shall include an additional

section in a license application that asks an applicant to identify their preferred written, spoken, and signed languages. (

c) Beginning July 1, 2027, each board shall conduct an annual review of applicants’ language preferences that are collected from license applications. (d)

(1) By July 1, 2027, each board shall determine whether there is a substantial number of non-English-speaking applicants who require the services of an interpreter. Each board shall report the determinations to the Legislature by January 1, 2028.

(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with

Section of the Government Code.

(3) Pursuant to

Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2030. (e)

(1) Beginning January 1, 2029, each board shall annually report to the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development and the Assembly Business and Professions Committees on language preference data collected from license applications.

(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with

Section of the Government Code.

(3) Pursuant to

Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2033.