(a) To ensure that Californians are protected from out-of-state licensees with disqualifying conditions who may unlawfully attempt to practice in this state under a practice privilege, prior to July 1, 2013, the board shall add an out-of-state licensee feature to its license lookup tab of the home page of its Internet Web site that allows consumers to obtain information about an individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who seeks to exercise a practice privilege in this state, that is at least equal to the information that was available to consumers through its home page prior to January 1, 2013, through the practice privilege form previously filed by out-of-state licensees pursuant to Section 5096, as added by Chapter 921 of the Statutes of 2004, and the regulations adopted thereunder. At minimum, these features shall include all of the following:
(1) The ability of the consumer to search by name and state of licensure.
(2) The disclosure of information in the possession of the board, which the board is otherwise authorized to publicly disclose, about an individual exercising a practice privilege in this state, including, but not limited to, whether the board has taken action of any form against that individual and, if so, what the action was or is.
(3) A disclaimer that the consumer must click through prior to being referred to any other Internet Web site, which in plain language explains that the consumer is being referred to an Internet Web site that is maintained by a regulatory agency or other entity that is not affiliated with the board. This disclaimer shall include a link to relevant sections of this article that set forth disqualifying conditions, including, but not limited to, Section 5096.2.
(4) A statement in plain language that notifies consumers that they are permitted to file complaints against such individuals with the board.
(5) A link to the Internet Web site or sites that the board determines, in its discretion, provides the consumer the most complete and reliable information available about the individual’s status as a licenseholder, permitholder, or certificate holder.
(6) If the board of another state does not maintain an Internet Web site that allows a consumer to obtain information about its licensees including, but not limited to, disciplinary history, and that information is not available through a link to an Internet Web site maintained by another entity, a link to contact information for that board, which contains a disclaimer in plain language that explains that the consumer is being referred to a board that does not permit the consumer to obtain information, including, but not limited to, disciplinary history, about individuals through the Internet Web site, and that the out-of-state board is not affiliated with the board.
(b) The board shall biennially survey the Internet Web sites and disclosure policies of other boards to ensure that its disclaimers are accurate.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 447, Sec. 25. (SB 795) Effective January 1, 2019.)