AB2775 - Chiropractic Act.

Amended IN Senate August 19, 2026 Amended IN Senate June 30, 2026 Amended IN Assembly May 18, 2026 Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2775 Introduced by Committee on Business and Professions Assembly Member Berman February 23, 2026 An act to amend Sections 480, 1000, 1001, 1006.5, and 1056 of, and to add Sections 1008 and 1009 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2775, as amended, Committee on Business and Professions Berman. Chiropractic Act. Existing law, the Chiropractic Act, enacted by an initiative measure, provides for the licensure and regulation of chiropractors in this state by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Existing law subjects the powers and duties of the board to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature as if the act was scheduled to be repealed as of January 1, 2027. This bill would instead subject the powers and duties of the board to that review as if that act were scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031. Existing law requires the board to annually compile a complete directory of all licensees within the state. Existing law requires that the board distribute one copy of the directory without charge to each licensee. This bill would require the board to distribute a copy of the directory electronically to each licensee and remove the requirement that the distribution be without charge. The bill would require the board to distribute a copy of the directory to a licensee by mail, if the licensee requests distribution by mail, but would prohibit the board from charging the licensee the costs of publication and distribution. Existing law requires a board within the Department of Consumer Affairs to issue a temporary license to practice a profession or vocation to an applicant who, among other things, holds a license to practice the profession or vocation in another state and is married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, as specified. This bill would authorize the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, by regulation, to create a system for the issuance of a temporary license to practice chiropractic to an applicant who does not qualify for a temporary license pursuant to the above-described provision that would authorize an unlicensed person to practice chiropractic. The bill would authorize the board to charge application, issuance, and replacement license fees, not to exceed the limits for a license to practice chiropractic. Existing law establishes a schedule of 22 different fees necessary to carry out the responsibilities required by the Chiropractic Initiative Act and the Chiropractic Act and authorizes the board to adopt lower fees by regulation. Existing law directs the deposit of these funds into the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ Fund, a continuously appropriated fund. This bill, for most of those fees, would revise the amount of the fee and would authorize the board to increase the amount of the fee to a specified maximum amount. The bill would specify that, if the board adopts lower fees by regulation, it shall be in an amount sufficient to support the functions of the board in the administration of its duties, as specified. The bill would require the board to set penalty fees for the delinquent renewal of a satellite office certificate, certificate of registration of a chiropractic corporation, or continuing education provider status. The bill would authorize the board to establish by regulation a system for the issuance and renewal of a chiropractic facility permit, including application, renewal, and replacement permit fees, in an amount sufficient to cover the reasonable regulatory costs to the board to administer the permit system. By authorizing new fees for deposit into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. Existing provisions of the Chiropractic Initiative Act authorize the board to refuse to grant, suspend, or revoke a license to practice chiropractic, place the licensee upon probation, or issue a reprimand, for violation of the rules and regulations adopted by the board in accordance with the act or for any cause specified in the act, in accordance with specified statutory proceedings. This bill would authorize the board to automatically revoke a license to practice chiropractic under specified circumstances, including if the licensee has been convicted in any court in or outside the state for specified offenses. The bill would also authorize the board to automatically suspend a license to practice chiropractic following a conviction of a serious felony, as defined. Existing law authorizes a board within the Department of Consumer Affairs to deny a license based on formal discipline by a licensing board in or outside of California and that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made. Existing law generally limits this authorization to formal discipline that occurred within 7 years preceding the date of application. Existing law creates an exception to that 7-year limitation if the formal discipline was based on conduct that would have constituted an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient, or sexual exploitation, as specified, if committed in this state by a licensed physician and surgeon. This bill would create a similar exception to that 7-year limitation for conduct that would have constituted an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient, as specified, if committed in this state by a licensed chiropractor. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to work with stakeholders to examine licensed chiropractors holding specialized certification who provide chiropractic care to animal patients and evaluate opportunities to expand access to qualified animal chiropractic care while ensuring appropriate consumer and animal protections are in place. This bill would make other technical and nonsubstantive changes. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to work with stakeholders to examine licensed chiropractors holding specialized certification who provide chiropractic care to animal patients and evaluate opportunities to expand access to qualified animal chiropractic care while ensuring appropriate consumer and animal protections are in place. SEC. 2. Section 480 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 480. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a board may deny a license regulated by this code on the grounds that the applicant has been convicted of a crime or has been subject to formal discipline only if either of the following conditions are met: (1) The applicant has been convicted of a crime within the preceding seven years from the date of application that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made, regardless of whether the applicant was incarcerated for that crime, or the applicant has been convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made and for which the applicant is presently incarcerated or for which the applicant was released from incarceration within the preceding seven years from the date of application. However, the preceding seven-year limitation shall not apply in either of the following situations: (A) The applicant was convicted of a serious felony, as defined in Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code Code, or a crime for which registration is required pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 290 of the Penal Code. (B) The applicant was convicted of a financial crime currently classified as a felony that is directly and adversely related to the fiduciary qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made, pursuant to regulations adopted by the board, and for which the applicant is seeking licensure under any of the following: (i) Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 3. (ii) Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3. (iii) Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 7512) of Division 3. (iv) Licensure as a funeral director or cemetery manager under Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 7600) of Division 3. (v) Division 4 (commencing with Section 10000). (2) The applicant has been subjected to formal discipline by a licensing board in or outside California within the preceding seven years from the date of application based on professional misconduct that would have been cause for discipline before the board for which the present application is made and that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the present application is made. However, prior disciplinary action by a licensing board within the preceding seven years shall not be the basis for denial of a license if the basis for that disciplinary action was a conviction that has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, 1203.41, 1203.42, or 1203.425 of the Penal Code or a comparable dismissal or expungement. Formal discipline that occurred earlier than seven years preceding the date of application may be grounds for denial of a license only if the formal discipline was for either of the following: (A) Conduct that, if committed in this state by a physician and surgeon licensed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2, would have constituted an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient pursuant to Section 726 or sexual exploitation as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 729. (B) Conduct that, if committed in this state by a chiropractor licensed pursuant to the Chiropractic Initiative Act, would have constituted an act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient pursuant to Section 726. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a person shall not be denied a license on the basis that the person has been convicted of a crime, or on the basis of acts underlying a conviction for a crime, if that person has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, has been granted clemency or a pardon by a state or federal executive, or has made a showing of rehabilitation pursuant to Section 482. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a person shall not be denied a license on the basis of any conviction, or on the basis of the acts underlying the conviction, that has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, 1203.41, 1203.42, or 1203.425 of the Penal Code, or a comparable dismissal or expungement. An applicant who has a conviction that has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, 1203.41, or 1203.42 of the Penal Code shall provide proof of the dismissal if it is not reflected on the report furnished by the Department of Justice. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a board shall not deny a license on the basis of an arrest that resulted in a disposition other than a conviction, including an arrest that resulted in an infraction, citation, or a juvenile adjudication. (e) A board may deny a license regulated by this code on the grounds that the applicant knowingly made a false statement of fact that is required to be revealed in the application for the license. A board shall not deny a license based solely on an applicant’s failure to disclose a fact that would not have been cause for denial of the license had it been disclosed. (f) A board shall follow the following procedures in requesting or acting on an applicant’s criminal history information: (1) A board issuing a license pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5500), Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 5615), Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 7301), Chapter 20 (commencing with Section 9800), or Chapter 20.3 (commencing with Section 9880) of Division 3, or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 19000) or Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 19225) of Division 8 may require applicants for licensure under those chapters to disclose criminal conviction history on an application for licensure. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (1), a board shall not require an applicant for licensure to disclose any information or documentation regarding the applicant’s criminal history. However, a board may request mitigating information from an applicant regarding the applicant’s criminal history for purposes of determining substantial relation or demonstrating evidence of rehabilitation, provided that the applicant is informed that disclosure is voluntary and that the applicant’s decision not to disclose any information shall not be a factor in a board’s decision to grant or deny an application for licensure. (3) If a board decides to deny an application for licensure based solely or in part on the applicant’s conviction history, the board shall notify the applicant in writing of all of the following: (A) The denial or disqualification of licensure. (B) Any existing procedure the board has for the applicant to challenge the decision or to request reconsideration. (C) That the applicant has the right to appeal the board’s decision. (D) The processes for the applicant to request a copy of the applicant’s complete conviction history and question the accuracy or completeness of the record pursuant to Sections 11122 to 11127 of the Penal Code. (g) (1) For a minimum of three years, each board under this code shall retain application forms and other documents submitted by an applicant, any notice provided to an applicant, all other communications received from and provided to an applicant, and criminal history reports of an applicant. (2) Each board under this code shall retain the number of applications received for each license and the number of applications requiring inquiries regarding criminal history. In addition, each licensing authority shall retain all of the following information: (A) The number of applicants with a criminal record who received notice of denial or disqualification of licensure. (B) The number of applicants with a criminal record who provided evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation. (C) The number of applicants with a criminal record who appealed any denial or disqualification of licensure. (D) The final disposition and demographic information, consisting of voluntarily provided information on race or gender, of any applicant described in subparagraph [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]