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AB-1288 • 2026

Registered environmental health specialists.

Registered environmental health specialists.

Education Healthcare Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Addis
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The source text mentions 'revised committee membership' but does not list the new specific numbers for each category of member.

Changes to Rules for Environmental Health Specialists

This law updates exam waiting periods, changes education rules, extends trainee supervision time, adds new job duties like body art and medical waste management, improves public access to specialist lists, and adjusts how the oversight committee works.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a person who fails the written exam to wait 90 days before taking it again.
  • Removes the rule that basic science classes must match an approved degree program exactly.
  • Extends the time trainees can work under supervision from up to 3 years to up to 5 years.
  • Adds body art and medical waste management to the list of tasks specialists may perform.
  • Requires the state department to post a public online list of all registered specialists within 90 days after an exam is given.
  • Changes committee rules so members can serve more than two terms in a row and do not have to stay on for one year after their term ends.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People applying to become registered environmental health specialists or trainees
  • The State Department of Public Health
  • Members of the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee

Terms To Know

Registered environmental health specialist
A person certified by the state to work on public health and safety issues like food protection, housing, hazardous materials, body art, and medical waste.
Environmental health specialist trainee
Someone with a bachelor's degree who is learning the job under an approved training plan for up to 5 years while supervised by a registered specialist.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not state when this law officially takes effect.
  • Specific details about revised educational requirements and committee membership numbers are described as 'as specified' without full explanation in the summary.
  • The exact new quorum number depends on how many seats are filled, rather than a fixed count.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Registered environmental health specialists.