(

a) Beginning April 1, 2025, a Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) fee of fifteen dollars ($15) shall be assessed annually on each of the licensees specified in subdivision (

b) to pay the reasonable costs associated with operating and maintaining CURES for the purpose of regulating those licensees. The fee assessed pursuant to this subdivision shall be billed and collected by the regulating agency of each licensee at the time of the licensee’s license renewal. If the reasonable regulatory cost of operating and maintaining CURES is less than fifteen dollars ($15) per licensee, the Department of Consumer Affairs, by regulation, may reduce the fee established by this

section to the reasonable regulatory cost. (b)

(1) Licensees authorized pursuant to

Section of the Health and Safety Code to prescribe, order, administer, furnish, or dispense

Schedule II,

Schedule III, or

Schedule IV controlled substances or pharmacists licensed pursuant to

Chapter 9 (commencing with

Section 4000) of Division 2.

(2) Licensees issued a license that has been placed in a retired or inactive status pursuant to a statute or regulation are exempt from the CURES fee requirement in subdivision (a). This exemption shall not apply to licensees whose license has been placed in a retired or inactive status if the licensee is at any time authorized to prescribe, order, administer, furnish, or dispense

Schedule II,

Schedule III, or

Schedule IV controlled substances.

(3) Wholesalers, third-party logistics providers, nonresident wholesalers, and nonresident third-party logistics providers of dangerous drugs licensed pursuant to

Article 11 (commencing with

Section 4160) of

Chapter of Division 2.

(4) Nongovernmental clinics licensed pursuant to

Article 13 (commencing with

Section 4180) and

Article 14 (commencing with

Section 4190) of

Chapter of Division 2.

(5) Nongovernmental pharmacies licensed pursuant to

Article 7 (commencing with

Section 4110) of

Chapter of Division 2. (

c) The funds collected pursuant to subdivision (

a) shall be deposited in the CURES Fund, which is hereby created within the State Treasury. Moneys in the CURES Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be available to the Department of Consumer Affairs to reimburse the Department of Justice for costs to operate and maintain CURES for the purposes of regulating the licensees specified in subdivision (b). (

d) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall contract with the Department of Justice on behalf of the Medical Board of California, the Dental Board of California, the California State Board of Pharmacy, the California Veterinary Medical Board, the Board of Registered Nursing, the Physician Assistant Board, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine, the State Board of Optometry, and the Podiatric Medical Board of California to operate and maintain CURES for the purposes of regulating the licensees specified in subdivision (b). (

e) This

section shall become operative on April 1, 2025.