1111 Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureaus
Program Descriptions

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.

Effective January 1, 2010, the Bureau was abolished and the duties of the Bureau were transferred to the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board pursuant to Chapter 309, Statutes of 2009 (AB 1535).

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, proprietary 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 EDUCATION

The former Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education became inoperative on July 1, 2007. Chapter 67, Statutes of 2007 (AB 1525) provided the Department of Consumer Affairs (Department) limited, interim-operation authority until January 31, 2008. The passage of Chapter 635, Statutes of 2007 (SB 45) extended that period to July 1, 2008. For approximately two years, the Department operated under informal agreements with the private postsecondary institutions until Chapter 310, Statutes of 2009 (AB 48) created a new California Private Postsecondary Education Act that reinstated the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau) effective January 1, 2010.

The Bureau oversees and approves private postsecondary 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.

28 - BUREAU OF ELECTRONIC AND APPLIANCE REPAIR, HOME FURNISHINGS, AND THERMAL INSULATION

Effective October 23, 2009, Chapter 18, Statutes of 2009, (AB X4 20) combined the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair and the Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation into a single bureau, the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation (Bureau).

The Bureau 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. The Bureau also 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.

31 - BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

The Bureau of Automotive Repair is responsible for regulating the automotive repair marketplace and administering the Smog Check Program. To carry out its mandate, the Bureau educates consumers, disciplines stations and technicians, seeks resolution to complaints, and licenses individuals and businesses. The Bureau also administers the nation's largest motor vehicle emissions reduction program. To help in its clean air efforts, the Bureau also administers the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). Through CAP, consumers who own a vehicle that fails a biennial inspection and who meet certain eligibility requirements can receive financial assistance for emissions-related repairs. Further, consumers can receive a financial incentive to retire their unwanted vehicle at any time for any reason. The Bureau, in cooperation with the California Air Resources Board, also administers a voucher program that offers eligible consumers additional compensation toward the purchase of lower-emitting vehicles or transportation passes after they retire their vehicle through CAP.

35 - CONSUMER AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION

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.

35.10.035 - Consumer and Client Services Division:

Effective July 1, 2010, the Consumer and Client Services Division includes the following three divisions:

The Administrative and Information Services Division serves 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 such as: policy direction, legal assistance, review of legislation, examination validation and assistance, information technology, accounting, budgets, personnel, and other administrative functions.

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.

The Consumer and Community Relations Division is responsible for operation of the Consumer Information Center and the Complaint Resolution Program. The Consumer Information Center, through its toll-free telephone number, operates a call center that 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 Resolution Program mediates consumer complaints against licensees and registrants regulated by the bureaus of the Department of Consumer Affairs, participates in statewide consumer outreach at fairs and other community events, and conducts informational presentations for community and civic groups, schools, and other interested groups.

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.

Effective October 23, 2009, the Bureau was abolished and the duties of the Bureau were transferred to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California pursuant to Chapter 18, Statutes of 2009 (AB X4 20).

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.