Records - General Provisions - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 500

This section allows certain professional boards in California, like those for doctors, dentists, and pharmacists, to recreate their records if the originals are destroyed by a disaster such as a fire. They must try to make the new records as accurate as the old ones.

If the register or book of registration of the Medical Board of California, the Dental Board of California, or the California State Board of Pharmacy is destroyed by fire or other public calamity, the board, whose duty it is to keep the register or book, may reproduce it so that there may be shown as nearly as possible the record existing in the original at the time of destruction.

Medical Board of California Dental Board of California California State Board of Pharmacy

Section § 501

This law is about what to do if an official register or book is destroyed. The board can use existing official documents or information to recreate the destroyed register. Once they've done that, they'll officially adopt this new version as the valid register, and it will be treated and used just like the original.

For the reproduction of the destroyed register or book the board shall make use of such existing official printed registers, books or matter, certificates, affidavits to be presented, or other official information as may be available and which may appear to the board to be authentic. Upon the completion of the reproduction, the board shall by resolution adopt the reproduced register or book as the register or book of the board, and thereafter the same shall be taken and used to all intents and purposes as well for evidence as otherwise as if it were the original.

destroyed register official registers reproduction of documents

Section § 502

This law requires certain healthcare boards in California, like those for nurses and physician assistants, to collect detailed workforce information from their licensees every two years to aid in workforce planning. This data includes things like retirement plans, work location, specialty, education level, and demographics, among others. While the boards need to maintain the confidentiality of individual information, they must share collected data in aggregate form with the Department of Health Care Access and Information. Importantly, providing this information is not mandatory for license renewals, and not doing so won't lead to disciplinary action. Existing mandatory reporting requirements remain unchanged.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, both of the following apply:

(1) The Board of Registered Nursing, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California, the Physician Assistant Board, and the Respiratory Care Board of California shall collect workforce data from their respective licensees and registrants as specified in subdivision (b) for future workforce planning at least biennially. The data shall be collected at the time of electronic license or registration renewal for those boards that utilize electronic renewals for licensees or registrants.

(2) All other boards that are not listed in paragraph (1) that regulate healing arts licensees or registrants under this division shall request workforce data from their respective licensees and registrants as specified in subdivision (b) for future workforce planning at least biennially. The data shall be requested at the time of electronic license or registration renewal for those boards that utilize electronic renewals for licensees or registrants.

(b) In conformance with specifications under subdivision (d), the workforce data collected or requested by each board about its licensees and registrants shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(1) Anticipated year of retirement.

(2) Area of practice or specialty.

(3) City, county, and ZIP Code of practice.

(4) Date of birth.

(5) Educational background and the highest level attained at time of licensure or registration.

(6) Gender or gender identity.

(7) Hours spent in direct patient care, including telehealth hours as a subcategory, training, research, and administration.

(8) Languages spoken.

(9) National Provider Identifier.

(10) Race or ethnicity.

(11) Type of employer or classification of primary practice site among the types of practice sites specified by the board, including, but not limited to, clinic, hospital, managed care organization, or private practice.

(12) Work hours.

(13) Sexual orientation.

(14) Disability status.

(c) Each board shall maintain the confidentiality of the information it receives from licensees and registrants under this section and shall only release information in an aggregate form that cannot be used to identify an individual other than as specified in subdivision (e).

(d) The Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Health Care Access and Information, shall specify for each board subject to this section the specific information and data that will be collected or requested pursuant to subdivision (b). The Department of Consumer Affairs’ identification and specification of this information and data shall be exempt until June 30, 2023, from the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(e) Each board, or the Department of Consumer Affairs on its behalf, shall, beginning on July 1, 2022, and quarterly thereafter, provide the individual licensee and registrant data it collects pursuant to this section to the Department of Health Care Access and Information in a manner directed by the Department of Health Care Access and Information, including license or registration number and associated license or registration information. The Department of Health Care Access and Information shall maintain the confidentiality of the licensee and registrant information it receives and shall only release information in an aggregate form that cannot be used to identify an individual.

(f) A licensee or registrant shall not be required to provide the information listed in subdivision (b) as a condition for license or registration renewal, and licensees or registrants shall not be subject to discipline for not providing the information listed in subdivision (b).

(g) This section does not alter or affect mandatory reporting requirements for licensees or registrants established pursuant to this division, including, but not limited to, Sections 1715.5, 1902.2, 2425.3, and 2455.2.

workforce data healthcare boards license renewal