(a) The State Architect shall establish and publicize a program for voluntary certification by the state of any person who meets specified criteria as a certified access specialist. No later than January 1, 2005, the State Architect shall determine minimum criteria a person is required to meet in order to be a certified access specialist, which may include knowledge sufficient to review, inspect, or advocate universal design requirements, completion of specified training, and testing on standards governing access to buildings for persons with disabilities.
(b) The State Architect may implement the program described in subdivision (a) with startup funds derived, as a loan, from the reserve of the Public School Planning, Design, and Construction Review Revolving Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature. That loan shall be repaid when sufficient fees have been collected pursuant to Section 4459.8.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 549, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2009.)