Chiropractic board can revoke or suspend licenses after certain convictions

The chiropractic board or its designee may automatically revoke or suspend a chiropractor’s license after certain convictions. Revocation covers specified sex offenses, sex-offender registration, and offenses subject to a mandatory 10-year revocation period; suspension covers serious felony convictions. A licensee may request a hearing within 30 days after an automatic revocation or suspension order. Revocation does not apply when sex-offender registration is required only because of a misdemeanor conviction for indecent exposure. A suspension may continue until the conviction becomes final and the board issues a further order. If the conviction is overturned on appeal, the board must end the revocation or rescind the suspension after receiving proof. The 30-day hearing period begins when the board issues the automatic revocation or suspension order.

The board may charge revised regulatory fees and may create permit and temporary-license systems by regulation. The fees cover chiropractic licenses, continuing education, satellite offices, chiropractic corporations, petitions, and related regulatory services; new fees may cover chiropractic facility permits and temporary licenses. The board may set lower fees, but they must still support the board’s duties. Facility-permit fees may not exceed the limits stated for certain satellite-office fees. Temporary-license fees may not exceed the limits stated for chiropractic license application, issuance, and replacement fees. The new permit and temporary-license systems depend on regulations adopted by the board. The fee amounts and fee ceilings apply under the amended fee schedule; permit and temporary-license charges apply only if the board creates those systems by regulation.

The chiropractic board must send the license directory electronically and must provide a free mailed copy when a licensee requests one. The directory covers people with active chiropractic certificates that allow treatment of human beings. The board may charge people who voluntarily subscribe to or purchase a directory copy. The board may no longer charge a licensee for publication or distribution of a mailed copy requested by that licensee. The board’s legislative review is treated as occurring before a repeal date of January 1, 2031.

A licensing board may consider older formal discipline involving certain sexual misconduct by a chiropractor when deciding a license application. The exception applies to discipline based on conduct that would have been sexual abuse, misconduct, or sexual relations with a patient by a California-licensed chiropractor. The conduct must be substantially related to the profession’s qualifications, functions, or duties. The general seven-year limit for considering formal discipline continues to apply to other conduct. The exception applies to formal discipline that occurred more than seven years before the license application.

The Legislature states its intent to study opportunities to expand access to qualified animal chiropractic care. The stated review concerns licensed chiropractors with specialized certification who provide chiropractic care to animal patients. The review is intended to include consumer and animal protections. The provision states legislative intent and does not itself authorize expanded animal chiropractic services.