Article 2.5. Continuing Education of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 13. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 2.5.

(a) The Legislature has determined that it is in the public interest for consumer protection and service that all manufactured housing dealers and salespersons licensed under the provisions of this part comply with the continuing education requirements adopted by department regulations pursuant to this article. The provisions of this article shall not apply to those persons licensed only to sell commercial coaches.
  (b) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this article as emergency regulations in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. For the purposes of the Administrative Procedure Act, the adoption of the regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare.

In carrying out its duties under this article, the department shall take reasonable steps to solicit the assistance and advice of persons who are experts in the areas of mobilehome and manufactured housing and in education in the areas of mobilehome and manufactured housing, including the needs and benefits of continuing education as provided for in this article.

(a) Any person licensed as a dealer or salesperson to sell manufactured homes or mobilehomes shall have completed approved educational courses, seminars, or conferences, or their equivalent, during the period preceding license renewal on the following basis:
  (1) For the first license renewal period subsequent to issuance of the license: 24 hours.
  (2) For the second license renewal period subsequent to issuance of the license: 12 hours.
  (3) For the third and subsequent license renewal periods subsequent to the issuances of the license: six hours.
  (b) The regulations shall prescribe all of the following:
  (1) A basis and method of qualifying educational programs, including course content and topic requirements, and instructors, the certification of attendance at which, or challenging the course of which, will satisfy the requirements of this article.
  (2) A procedure for evaluation of petitions based on a claim of equivalency with the requirements of subdivision (a), and a reasonable standard by which activity would be judged equivalent, including, but not limited to, instruction in manufactured housing educational programs, law, manufactured housing technical programs, or research.
  (3) A system of control and reporting qualifying attendance.
  (4) A statement of the conditions of exemption from the continuing education requirements established under this article, as well as a method of applying and qualifying for the exemption, for reason of health, military service, or other compelling cause.
  (5) Criteria for the content, availability, and procedures for no less than six hours of preliminary education courses or programs which shall be attended and successfully concluded by applicants for new dealers' or salespersons' licenses before the applicants take the licensing examinations.
  (c) In exercising the authority under this article, the department shall establish standards which will assure reasonable currency of knowledge as a basis for a level of manufactured housing practice which will provide a high level of consumer protection and service. The standards shall include, where qualified, generally accredited educational institutions, private vocational schools, correspondence institutions, educational programs and seminars of professional societies and organizations, other organized educational programs or technical subjects, or equivalent offerings.

The department may amend or repeal any regulation adopted pursuant to this article in the same manner as provided for adoption of regulations, except that no amendment or repeal shall operate to deprive any licensee of the right to submit qualifying education completed pursuant to the amended or repealed regulation during his or her current license term, as a basis for license renewal.

On or after January 1, 1987, no dealer's or salesperson's license shall be issued or renewed unless the department finds that the applicant has completed the preliminary or continuing education required by this article. Any denial of license issuance or renewal is subject to Article 2 (commencing with Section 18050).

When the department finds that the evidence submitted in good faith by an applicant for a renewal license does not in fact qualify, it may extend the license for 90 days to allow the applicant to submit additional evidence to comply with this article. When the renewal license is issued during a grace period, it shall expire at the regular time otherwise provided for in this part.