CONTRACTORS STATE LICENSE BOARD

9821 Business Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95827 Tel: (800) 321-2752 / www.cslb.ca.gov or www.CheckTheLicenseFirst.com

FACTS AT A GLANCE

BOARD STAFF

Registrar Chief Deputy Registrar Legislative Contact Cindi Christenson Cindy Kanemoto Laura Zuniga

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Business and Professions Code §§ 7000 – 7199.7 California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 8, §§ 810 – 890

FY 2015-16 BUDGET INFORMATION

Contractors State License Board $64,103,000 Construction Management Education Account $100,000 Authorized positions: 403

BOARD MEMBERS

Total Members: 15 Public Members: 10 Professional Members: 5

SUNSET REVIEW

Last review: 2015 Inoperative/Repeal date: January 1, 2020

LICENSEE STATISTICS Category Number of Licenses

Contractor Licenses(active) Contractor Licenses (inactive) Asbestos Certifications Home Improvement Salespersons Registrations

TOTAL LICENSEE POPULATION

223,912 60,683 1,508 10,078

294,673

FEES*

CONTRACTOR FEES ACTUAL FEE STATUTORY LIMIT

Application Fee (includes exam fee) $300 $300 Initial Licensure Fee $180 $180

TOTAL INITIAL LICENSE FEES $480 -

Additional Classification Fee $75 $75 Biennial Renewal Fee $360 $360

* Some additional fees may be required per Business and Professions Code § 7137.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Degree/Professional Schooling Examination Continuing Education/Competency Fingerprinting Requirement NO YES NO YES

DETAILS

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The Contractors State License Board (Board) was established in 1929 as the Contractors License Bureau under the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards. Now part of the Department of Consumer Affairs (Department), the 15member board (10 public members—seven non-contractors, one labor representative, one local building official, and one representative of a statewide senior citizen organization; and five professional members) appoints the Board’s executive officer, known as the Registrar of Contractors (Registrar), and directs administrative policy for the Board’s operations. The Board licenses and regulates contractors in 43 classifications and two certifications (asbestos abatement and hazardous substance removal) that constitute the construction industry. The Registrar oversees more than 400 employees, who are located at the headquarters in Sacramento and in field offices throughout the state.

A license from the Board is required for any person providing contractor services on a project for $500 or more (including labor and materials). Each license must have a qualifying individual listed in the Board’s records who satisfies the experience and examination requirements for the license. The qualifying individual must be an owner, responsible managing employee, responsible managing officer, or qualifying partner.

The Board operates one of the largest enforcement programs under the Department and established a Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) that focuses on the underground economy and unlicensed contractors. The SWIFT unit conducts stings and sweeps throughout California to help curtail illegal contracting by citing those who are not licensed and to educate individuals on how to become licensed.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS – Business and Professions Code §§ 7065 - 7077, 16 California Code of Regulations § 825

Applicants must possess: • Four years of experience in the class applied for at a journey level or as a foreman, supervising employee, contractor, or owner-builder within the 10 years immediately preceding filing of the application. • Education is not required; however, certain education, such as apprenticeship programs or college-level education, can be used as credit towards some of the experience requirements.

RECIPROCITY – Business and Professions Code § 7065.4

The Board has reciprocity agreements in place with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

Reciprocity requirements are the same for these states:  The contractor must be applying for a license in a classification that appears on that state's Reciprocal Classifications List.  The contractor must have held an active license in good standing in one of the reciprocal states for the previous five years.  The contractor must submit to the Board the Request for Verification of License form that is completed by the licensing entity under which he or she is already licensed.  The contractor must complete the Application for Original Contractor's License.  The Certification of Work Experience form 13A-11 must be used to report and confirm the journey-level work experience for the previous five years.

If the Board grants reciprocity to a contractor, it can waive the trade portion of the examination (the contractor still must take the business law exam section); however, the Board retains the right to require the exam.

BOARD MEMBERS

Name Appointment Expiration Date Appointment Authority/Type

Senate Confirmation

Kevin Albanese June 1, 2017 Governor / Professional YES

Agustin Beltran (Vice Chair) June 1, 2017 Senate Rules / Public NO

Linda Clifford (Secretary) June 1, 2018 Governor / Professional YES David De La Torre June 1, 2016 Assembly / Public NO

David Dias June 1, 2016 Governor / Labor Rep. YES Susan Granzella June 1, 2016 Governor / Public YES

Joan Hancock June 1, 2019 Governor / Professional YES Pastor Herrera, Jr. June 1, 2018 Governor / Public YES

Robert Lamb June 1, 2016 Assembly / Public NO

Ed Lang (Chair) June 1, 2018 Governor / Public YES Marlo Richardson June 1, 2016 Governor / Public YES

Frank Schetter June 1, 2019 Governor / Professional YES

Paul Schifino June 1, 2017 Governor / Professional YES Johnny Simpson June 1, 2019 Senate Rules / Public NO

Nancy Springer June 1, 2017 Governor / Building Official YES

COMMITTEES

The following committees have been created by the Board, and consist of Board members that meet on a regular basis for the purpose of discussing specific issues, and providing feedback and any recommendations to the full Board.

 Enforcement  Executive  Legislative  Licensing  Public Affairs

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

SB 467 (Hill, Chapter 656, Statutes of 2015) extends the sunset date for the Board to January 1, 2020, and repeals the requirement for contractor applicants to provide evidence of financial solvency. In addition, this bill increases the value of the bond that must be obtained by applicants from $12,500 to $15,000.

SB 560 (Monning, Chapter 389, Statutes of 2015) authorizes specified Board enforcement representatives to issue notices to appear to contractors for failure to secure valid and current workers’ compensation insurance.

SB 561 (Monning, Chapter 281, Statutes of 2015) allows the Board to implement a system to accept electronic transmission of applications for licensure and license renewals, as well as an accompanying digital signature. This bill allows home improvement salespersons to register one time and list multiple employers rather than requiring a separate registration for each employer. This bill also requires contractors to report to the Board when a salesperson becomes employed by them and when the employment relationship ends.

SB 315 (Lieu, Chapter 392, Statutes of 2014) authorizes the Board access to businesses when carrying out duties associated with the Joint Enforcement Strike Force on the Underground Economy. In addition, this bill allows the Board 180 days to initiate disciplinary action against a licensee upon receipt of a Labor Commissioner’s finding of willful violation of the Labor Code.

AB 44 (Buchanan, Chapter 258, Statutes of 2013) requires any entity taking bids for construction of a public work or improvement to specify in the bid request that the name and location of every subcontractor must be included in that bid.

AB 433 (Gordon, Chapter 377, Statutes of 2013) authorizes the installation of residential fire protection systems for one or two family dwellings by a contractor holding a plumbing contractor classification with the Board. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the State Fire Marshal may propose, adopt and administer regulations relating to fire safety in all buildings in California and allows the Marshal to charge appropriate fees for administration of the fire safety provisions.

AB 1236 (Hagman, Chapter 114, Statutes of 2013) allows contractors organized as limited liability companies to secure an eligible line of surplus insurance in lieu of maintaining a surety bond on file with the Board as a condition of licensure.

SB 261 (Monning, Chapter 163, Statutes of 2013) authorizes the Board to take disciplinary action against a licensee who is in violation of fraudulent use of licenses issued by the Department. This bill allows the Board to take administrative action against unlicensed violators regardless of whether criminal charges are pursued by the local district attorney.

SB 262 (Monning, Chapter 180, Statutes of 2013) defines conditions that must be met by a qualifying individual to exercise “direct supervision and control” over construction projects as required by the Contractors’ State License Law and creates a misdemeanor for qualifying individuals who disregard those supervisory obligations.

AB 1750 (Solorio, Chapter 537, Statutes of 2012) authorizes a landscape contractor (C-27 classification), licensed by the Board, to enter into prime contracts for the design and installation of rainwater capture systems, if the system is used exclusively for irrigation or as a water supply for an outdoor water feature.

AB 1794 (Williams, Chapter 811, Statutes of 2012) grants the Board the authority to access employee records collected from licensed contractors and maintained by the Employment Development Department. This authority sunsets on January 1, 2019.

AB 2219 (Knight, Chapter 389, Statutes of 2012) extends the provisions requiring C39 (Roofing) contractors obtain workers’ compensation insurance coverage indefinitely and requires an insurer, issuing workers’ compensation insurance coverage to a roofing contractor, to make an in-person visit to the licensee’s place of business to verify employee information.

AB 2237 (Monning, Chapter 371, Statutes of 2012) clarifies the definition of “contractor” to mean a person serving as a consultant to an owner-builder who oversees a bid process or arranges work schedules.

AB 2554 (Berryhill, Chapter 85, Statutes of 2012) authorizes the Board to pursue an accusation against a licensee if that licensee has already had a license revoked. This bill also renames the Board’s enforcement “unit” as the enforcement “division.”

SB 691 (Lieu, Chapter 832, Statutes of 2012) adds the Board to the definition of “authorized governmental agency” in the Unemployment Insurance Code, which will allow the Employment Development Department to share workers’ compensation insurance fraud information with the Board.