09 STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION

The State Athletic Commission approves, manages, and directs all professional and amateur boxing and full-contact martial arts events. The Commission protects consumers by ensuring bouts are fair and competitive while protecting the health and safety of participants.

The State Athletic Commission became a bureau directly under the Department of Consumer Affairs, effective July 1, 2006, pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 101.1(b), but was reestablished as a commission effective January 1, 2007, pursuant to Chapter 465, Statutes of 2006.

23 ARBITRATION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The Arbitration Certification Program certifies and monitors arbitration programs offered by new car manufacturers to ensure that they substantially comply with state and federal regulations.

24 HEARING AID DISPENSERS BUREAU

The Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau licenses and regulates hearing aid dispensers. The Bureau also protects hearing-impaired consumers by informing them of their legal rights and obligations when purchasing or returning hearing aids and protects consumers by maintaining advertising standards.

25 BUREAU OF SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES

The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services ensures that only those who meet the prescribed qualifications to offer services as private investigators, repossessors, uniformed security guards, private patrol operators, propriety private security officers, alarm company operators, alarm agents, locksmiths, and firearm and baton training facilities be licensed, and enforces the regulations established by legislation for such licenses.

27 BUREAU FOR PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

The Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education is responsible for overseeing and approving private postsecondary vocational and degree-granting institutions to ensure they meet specified minimum statutory standards concerning the quality of education, ethical and business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility. The Bureau responds to student complaints and oversees a fund designed to help reimburse a student's tuition if a school closes unexpectedly. The Bureau is also responsible for approving education and training programs for veterans in California.

28 BUREAU OF ELECTRONIC AND APPLIANCE REPAIR

The Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair registers and regulates all businesses engaged in major home appliance and electronic equipment repair by imposing specific obligations of ethical conduct, honesty, and full and fair disclosure, providing certain safeguards to consumers when they need repair services or enter into service contract transactions, and ridding the repair industry of unscrupulous repair dealers and service contractors.

31 BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

The Bureau of Automotive Repair administers two major programs in automotive repair markets that protect the consumer: the Automotive Repair Program and the Smog Check Program. Both programs are designed to protect consumers in the automotive repair marketplace, promote consumer education, and discipline unethical service dealers and technicians. In addition, through the Smog Check Program, BAR administers the nation's largest motor vehicle emissions reduction program. The Bureau also administers the Consumer Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible consumers whose vehicles fail a biennial Smog Check inspection.

34 BUREAU OF HOME FURNISHINGS AND THERMAL INSULATION

The Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation regulates the manufacture, distribution, and sale of upholstered furniture, bedding, and thermal insulation products sold in California to ensure they meet health, safety, and flammability standards.

35 CONSUMER AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION

35.10.010-Administrative and Information Services Division:

In order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of services, ensure proper oversight and accountability, and minimize duplication of effort, the Department centralizes several functions that support the administration and implementation of the goals of the regulatory boards and bureaus. Services include policy direction, legal assistance, review of legislation, examination validation and assistance, information technology, accounting, budgets, personnel and other administrative functions.

35.10.015-Office of Public Affairs:

The Office of Public Affairs serves as the primary press office for the Department and is the primary developer of consumer alerts, fact sheets and internet postings designed to raise awareness of consumer issues among consumers, the news media and other stakeholders.

35.10.020-Consumer and Community Relations Division:

The Consumer and Community Relations Division is responsible for operation of the Consumer Information Center and the Complaint Mediation Program. The Consumer Information Center, through its toll-free telephone number, operates a call center. The center assists consumers and licensees by distributing publications, and applications for licensure and providing referrals to other consumer resources. The Center also responds to written correspondence and conducts outreach to inform and protect consumers about marketplace trends and represents consumer interests at local, state and federal levels. The complaint Mediation Program mediates most consumer complaints against licensees and registrants regulated by the bureaus of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

35.10.025-Division of Investigation:

The Division of Investigation is vested with the statutory authority to investigate and enforce the laws administered by the client agencies within the Department to protect the health, safety, and welfare of consumers. The Division employs sworn armed peace officers to provide objective, timely, and cost-effective investigative services for its client agencies.

37 TELEPHONE MEDICAL ADVICE SERVICES BUREAU

The Telephone Medical Advice Services Bureau is responsible for regulating businesses that provide medical advice by telephone to California residents. The Bureau ensures that providers of telephone medical advice are qualified licensed health-care professionals, informs patients of their rights, and pursues any reported harmful activities.

38 CEMETERY AND FUNERAL BUREAU

The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau ensures that only qualified applicants receive licenses to operate cemeteries, crematories or funeral establishments, or act as funeral directors, embalmers, apprentice embalmers, cremated remains disposers, cemetery managers, crematory managers, cemetery brokers or salespeople. The Bureau also ensures that licensees comply with applicable rules and regulations concerning the management of trust funds, permanence of mausoleums and columbariums, and the proper handling of human remains.

39 BUREAU OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine implements and enforces the Naturopathic Doctors Act by licensing and regulating naturopathic doctors in California. The Bureau ensures that naturopathic doctors meet required educational and practice standards before licensure and investigates complaints against its licensees, disciplining those individuals found guilty of violations of law or regulation.

40 OFFICE OF PRIVACY PROTECTION

The California Office of Privacy Protection serves as a statewide resource for consumer information and assistance on identity theft and other privacy issues. The Office also assists local, state, and federal law enforcement by providing training on privacy issues and by coordinating with them in investigations, works with businesses and other organizations to define and encourage sound privacy protection practices and reports on trends in consumer privacy problems and issues. The Governers Budget includes a proposal to move the Office of Privacy Protection to the State and Consumer Services Agency effective July 1, 2007.

89 PROFESSIONAL FIDUCIARIES BUREAU

The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, established pursuant to Chapter 491, Statutes of 2006, implements and enforces the Professional Fiduciaries Act by licensing and regulating individuals who act as professional fiduciaries in California. The Bureau protects against fraud and abuse by those who are charged with the care of California's most vulnerable residents by ensuring that minimum competency standards are met by establishing educational and experience requirements, conducting examinations, investigating violations of professional ethics and law, and disciplining licensees when appropriate.