Senator Roth Reflects on First Year of Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Chairmanship

October 07, 2021

 

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) lauded Governor Newsom’s signing of several bills from the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development, and reflected on his dynamic first year as Chair of the Committee:

 

“The signing of these bills ensures the continuation of several significant professional licensing and occupational boards that serve to protect California consumers and marks the end of my first legislative year as Chair of the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development.

 

“From the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to the Medical Board, each licensing body subject to review this session provided an opportunity to reevaluate our state’s role in the standardization of oversight, accountability, enforcement, and quality service. As chair, my primary objective is to ensure California consumers are protected.

 

“However, oversight also allows the Legislature to assess whether existing processes and standards create unnecessary barriers to employment. Evaluation of these practices helps us balance our need for consumer protections with maximizing efficiencies within government and offering opportunity and economic mobility to individuals, particularly as we seek to rebound from the pandemic’s impact on our state. One such example - I am proud of our accomplishments in SB 803 seeking to ease barriers to employment identified under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 

 

“We had many robust discussions and debates over this last year, which reflects the many nuanced positions of stakeholders on all sides of these debates. I look forward to the continued discussions about the role of licensing bodies and how to appropriately balance consumer protections and promote economic development in our state.”

 

# # #

 

Senator Richard D. Roth represents the 31st State Senate District, which includes the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, March Air Reserve Base, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris, and Riverside. Prior to his election, he served for 32 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 2007 in the grade of Major General. More information about Senator Roth can be found at https://sd31.senate.ca.gov/