President’s Message – Fingerprinting Requirements
As of January 1, 2021, Senate Bill 608 (Glazer, Chapter 376, Statutes of 2019) will require the California Architects Board (Board) to obtain fingerprints from license applicants for purposes of conducting criminal history record checks. (See Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 144, 5552.1.)
If the Board receives information from the Department of Justice disclosing a criminal history for an applicant, the Board will make a determination whether to issue the license or deny the application based on the crime. Denial of a professional or vocational license is permitted if the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 480.) To make its determination on license issuance or denial, the Board applies its substantial relationship criteria to determine whether the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an architect. (16 CCR § 110.) The Board also evaluates the applicant’s rehabilitation since criminal conviction. (16 CCR § 110.1.)
The Board will publicize additional information on its website about this new requirement before the implementation date.