Could the membership of state boards lead to anti-trust lawsuits and put members in the legal crosshairs? That's what a 1 p.m. joint hearing will discuss on Thursday.
Meeting: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development and Assembly Business and Professions committees will be taking testimony related to the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission on state boards. Boards such as the Medical Board of California have a majority of participants who are active in the fields they regulate. In boards constructed like the CMB, decisions they make could further their own interests rather than the interests of the state or consumers, according to the FTC. It may force major changes, including have more public members on boards.
Meeting: The California Air Resources Board meeting starts at 9 a.m. It is now one of the most powerful boards in the war on climate change, and was on the front line of the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Since Jerry Brown’s failure to pass the 50% petroleum reduction in SB 350, the governor plans to use his power over CARB to implement the same reduction targets without legislative approval. The meetings have become the center of this debate.
Meeting: The California Public Utilities Commission, when not meeting secretly with utility executives, is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. While there will be rallies outside the meeting about a possible shift in solar energy regulations, spurred by utility companies, that advocates say will kill the solar industry, decisions slated to be rendered on Thursday include one that will help determine the grid-edge technology mix funded by $300 million of California ratepayer cash over the next few years.
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Next week:
The Medical Board of California agenda for next week is jammed packed. It will also be discussing the Supreme Court ruling as well as whether patients should be clearly notified if their doctors are on probation. In addition, it may decide on how the board will deal with physicians who have substance abuse problems.
