Existing law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists by the State Department of Public Health and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. Existing law prescribes educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist and requires all basic science coursework to be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. Existing law provides that only a person who meets those educational and experience requirements is eligible for admission to the environmental health specialist examination. Existing law prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the written examination twice from taking the examination additional times unless specified time periods have elapsed. Existing law prohibits a person from taking the examination more than once in a 2-year period. Existing law requires the department to maintain a current registry of all registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees in the state.

Existing law defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professional to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. Existing law authorizes a local health department to employ a registered environmental health specialist to enforce public health laws, as specified. Existing law authorizes an environmental health specialist trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed 3 years. Existing law defines environmental health specialist trainee as a person who possesses a bachelors degree, as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. Existing law requires an environmental health training plan to include specified elements.

This bill would instead prohibit an applicant from being reexamined for 90 days after failing to pass the written examination. The bill would revise the educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist, as specified, and would delete the requirement that basic science coursework be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. This bill would extend the period of required supervision to instead not exceed 5 years. The bill would include body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists and would revise the environmental health training plan elements, as specified. The bill would require the department to make its registry of registered specialists and trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an exam.

Existing law requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department. Existing law prescribes the membership of the committee, including 2 members with experience as local directors of environmental health, as specified, 2 members from environmental health faculty from California universities and colleges, 2 public members who have not been engaged in the field of environmental health in the 5 years preceding their appointment, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role. Existing law prohibits a committee member from serving no more than 2 successive terms and requires a committee member to serve until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year after their term has expired, whichever occurs first.

This bill would instead make the State Environmental Health Director serve as the executive officer of the committee and would revise the committee membership, as specified. The bill would delete the prohibition on a committee member serving more than 2 consecutive terms. The bill would delete the requirement that a committee member serve until one year after the expiration of their term. The bill would make clarifying technical changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.

Existing law requires the committee to meet at least twice annually and defines a quorum for these purposes as 6 members of the committee. Existing law requires the committee to keep a record of its proceedings.

This bill would require the committee to meet at least quarterly, in person or virtually, and would redefine a quorum of the committee to mean a simple majority of the filled committee seats. The bill would authorize the chairperson to cancel a committee meeting, as specified. The bill would also require the committee to keep a record of its meetings.

Existing law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists by the State Department of Public Health and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. Existing law prescribes educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist and requires all basic science coursework to be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. Existing law provides that only a person who meets those educational and experience requirements is eligible for admission to the environmental health specialist examination. Existing law prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the written examination twice from taking the examination additional times unless specified time periods have elapsed. Existing law prohibits a person from taking the examination more than once in a 2-year period. Existing law requires the department to maintain a current registry of all registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees in the state.

Existing law defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professional to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. Existing law authorizes a local health department to employ a registered environmental health specialist to enforce public health laws, as specified. Existing law authorizes an environmental health specialist trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed 3 years. Existing law defines environmental health specialist trainee as a person who possesses a bachelors degree, as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. Existing law requires an environmental health training plan to include specified elements.

This bill would instead prohibit an applicant from being reexamined for 90 days after failing to pass the written examination. The bill would revise the educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist, as specified, and would delete the requirement that basic science coursework be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. This bill would extend the period of required supervision to instead not exceed 5 years. The bill would include body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists and would revise the environmental health training plan elements, as specified. The bill would require the department to make its registry of registered specialists and trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an exam.

Existing law requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department. Existing law prescribes the membership of the committee, including 2 members with experience as local directors of environmental health, as specified, 2 members from environmental health faculty from California universities and colleges, 2 public members who have not been engaged in the field of environmental health in the 5 years preceding their appointment, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role. Existing law prohibits a committee member from serving no more than 2 successive terms and requires a committee member to serve until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year after their term has expired, whichever occurs first.

This bill would instead make the State Environmental Health Director serve as the executive officer of the committee and would revise the committee membership, as specified. The bill would delete the prohibition on a committee member serving more than 2 consecutive terms. The bill would delete the requirement that a committee member serve until one year after the expiration of their term. The bill would make clarifying technical changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.

Existing law requires the committee to meet at least twice annually and defines a quorum for these purposes as 6 members of the committee. Existing law requires the committee to keep a record of its proceedings.

This bill would require the committee to meet at least quarterly, in person or virtually, and would redefine a quorum of the committee to mean a simple majority of the filled committee seats. The bill would authorize the chairperson to cancel a committee meeting, as specified. The bill would also require the committee to keep a record of its meetings.

Existing law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists by the State Department of Public Health and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. Existing law prescribes educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist and requires all basic science coursework to be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. Existing law provides that only a person who meets those educational and experience requirements is eligible for admission to the environmental health specialist examination. Existing law prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the written examination twice from taking the examination additional times unless specified time periods have elapsed. Existing law prohibits a person from taking the examination more than once in a 2-year period. Existing law requires the department to maintain a current registry of all registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees in the state.

Existing law defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professional to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. Existing law authorizes a local health department to employ a registered environmental health specialist to enforce public health laws, as specified. Existing law authorizes an environmental health specialist trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed 3 years. Existing law defines environmental health specialist trainee as a person who possesses a bachelors degree, as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. Existing law requires an environmental health training plan to include specified elements.

This bill would instead prohibit an applicant from being reexamined for 90 days after failing to pass the written examination. The bill would revise the educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist, as specified, and would delete the requirement that basic science coursework be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. This bill would extend the period of required supervision to instead not exceed 5 years. The bill would include body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists and would revise the environmental health training plan elements, as specified. The bill would require the department to make its registry of registered specialists and trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an exam.

Existing law requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department. Existing law prescribes the membership of the committee, including 2 members with experience as local directors of environmental health, as specified, 2 members from environmental health faculty from California universities and colleges, 2 public members who have not been engaged in the field of environmental health in the 5 years preceding their appointment, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role. Existing law prohibits a committee member from serving no more than 2 successive terms and requires a committee member to serve until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year after their term has expired, whichever occurs first.

This bill would instead make the State Environmental Health Director serve as the executive officer of the committee and would revise the committee membership, as specified. The bill would delete the prohibition on a committee member serving more than 2 consecutive terms. The bill would delete the requirement that a committee member serve until one year after the expiration of their term. The bill would make clarifying technical changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.

Existing law requires the committee to meet at least twice annually and defines a quorum for these purposes as 6 members of the committee. Existing law requires the committee to keep a record of its proceedings.

This bill would require the committee to meet at least quarterly, in person or virtually, and would redefine a quorum of the committee to mean a simple majority of the filled committee seats. The bill would authorize the chairperson to cancel a committee meeting, as specified. The bill would also require the committee to keep a record of its meetings.

Existing law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists by the State Department of Public Health and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. Existing law prescribes educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist and requires all basic science coursework to be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. Existing law provides that only a person who meets those educational and experience requirements is eligible for admission to the environmental health specialist examination. Existing law prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the written examination twice from taking the examination additional times unless specified time periods have elapsed. Existing law prohibits a person from taking the examination more than once in a 2-year period. Existing law requires the department to maintain a current registry of all registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees in the state.

Existing law defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professional to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. Existing law authorizes a local health department to employ a registered environmental health specialist to enforce public health laws, as specified. Existing law authorizes an environmental health specialist trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed 3 years. Existing law defines environmental health specialist trainee as a person who possesses a bachelors degree, as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. Existing law requires an environmental health training plan to include specified elements.

This bill would instead prohibit an applicant from being reexamined for 90 days after failing to pass the written examination. The bill would revise the educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist, as specified, and would delete the requirement that basic science coursework be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. This bill would extend the period of required supervision to instead not exceed 5 years. The bill would include body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists and would revise the environmental health training plan elements, as specified. The bill would require the department to make its registry of registered specialists and trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an exam.

Existing law requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department. Existing law prescribes the membership of the committee, including 2 members with experience as local directors of environmental health, as specified, 2 members from environmental health faculty from California universities and colleges, 2 public members who have not been engaged in the field of environmental health in the 5 years preceding their appointment, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role. Existing law prohibits a committee member from serving no more than 2 successive terms and requires a committee member to serve until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year after their term has expired, whichever occurs first.

This bill would instead make the State Environmental Health Director serve as the executive officer of the committee and would revise the committee membership, as specified. The bill would delete the prohibition on a committee member serving more than 2 consecutive terms. The bill would delete the requirement that a committee member serve until one year after the expiration of their term. The bill would make clarifying technical changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.

Existing law requires the committee to meet at least twice annually and defines a quorum for these purposes as 6 members of the committee. Existing law requires the committee to keep a record of its proceedings.

This bill would require the committee to meet at least quarterly, in person or virtually, and would redefine a quorum of the committee to mean a simple majority of the filled committee seats. The bill would authorize the chairperson to cancel a committee meeting, as specified. The bill would also require the committee to keep a record of its meetings.

Existing law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists by the State Department of Public Health, Health and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. Existing law defines prescribes educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist and requires all basic science coursework to be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. Existing law provides that only a person who meets those educational and experience requirements is eligible for admission to the environmental health specialist examination. Existing law prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the written examination twice from taking the examination additional times unless specified time periods have elapsed. Existing law prohibits a person from taking the examination more than once in a 2-year period. Existing law requires the department to maintain a current registry of all registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees in the state.

Existing law defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professional to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. Existing law authorizes a local health department to employ a registered environmental health specialist to enforce public health laws, as specified. Existing law authorizes an environmental health specialist trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed 3 years. Existing law defines environmental health specialist trainee as a person who possesses a bachelors degree, as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. Existing law requires an environmental health training plan to include specified elements.

This bill would instead prohibit an applicant from being reexamined for 90 days after failing to pass the written examination. The bill would revise the educational requirements for the registration of an environmental health specialist, as specified, and would delete the requirement that basic science coursework be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program. This bill would extend that the period of required supervision to instead not exceed 5 years. The bill would include body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists. specialists and would revise the environmental health training plan elements, as specified. The bill would require the department to make its registry of registered specialists and trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an exam.

Existing law requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department. Existing law prescribes the membership of the committee, including 2 members with experience as local directors of environmental health, as specified, 2 members from environmental health faculty from California universities and colleges, 2 public members who have not been engaged in the field of environmental health in the 5 years preceding their appointment, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role. Existing law prohibits a committee member from serving no more than 2 successive terms and requires a committee member to serve until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year after their term has expired, whichever occurs first.

This bill would instead make the State Environmental Health Director serve as the executive officer of the committee. committee and would revise the committee membership, as specified. The bill would delete the prohibition on a committee member serving more than 2 consecutive terms. The bill would delete the requirement that a committee member serve until one year after the expiration of their term. The bill would make clarifying technical changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.

Existing law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists by the State Department of Public Health, and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. Existing law defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professional to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. Existing law authorizes a local health department to employ a registered environmental health specialist to enforce public health laws, as specified. Existing law authorizes an environmental health specialist trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed 3 years.

This bill would extend that period of supervision to instead not exceed 5 years. The bill would include body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists.

Existing law requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department. Existing law prescribes the membership of the committee, including members with experience as local directors of environmental health, as specified, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role.

This bill would instead make the State Environmental Health Director serve as the executive officer of the committee. The bill would make clarifying technical changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 1288

Author:(Addis and Valencia)

As Amended Ver:September 04, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Makes various changes to the scope, education, training, and examination of registered environmental health specialists (REHS) and environmental health specialist (EHS) trainees as well as to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee.

Major Provisions

1. Adds body art and medical waste to the scope of practice of REHSs.
2. Updates the definition of an EHS trainee to include the requirement that they are engaged in an approved environmental health training plan.
3. Revises and recasts the environmental health training requirements to include training in at least three of the following primary elements: food safety, solid waste, liquid waste, water quality, housing and institutions, recreational health, body art, hazardous materials, or other Certified Unified Program Agency elements.
4. Allows additional training content to include any other primary element listed above or any of the following secondary elements: air sanitation, safety and accident prevention, land development and use, disaster sanitation, radiation, milk and dairy products, noise control, occupational health, medical waste, or vector control.
5. Extends the period of time that an EHS trainee is authorized to work under the supervision of a REHS, from three years to five years.
6. Changes requirements related to the REHS examination, deleting various restrictions on re-taking the examination and instead allowing an applicant who fails to pass the written examination to be reexamined after 90 days from the date of the previous examination.
7. Changes the executive officer of the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee from the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch to the State Environmental Health Director and makes technical, clarifying changes to the terminology to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director. Makes other changes to the Committee membership rules.
8. Increases the frequency of REHS meetings from at least twice annually to at least quarterly.
9. Requires the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to make its registry of all REHSs and all EHS trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.

Senate Amendments

1. Delete references to science courses designated by the educational institution for science or clinical health care degrees and replace it with basic science regarding the educational requirements for the registration of REHS.
2. Clarify, for purposes of this bill, basic sciences include life sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, and health sciences.
3. Prohibit social science courses such as sociology or psychology from counting toward the basic science requirements.

COMMENTS

What is an REHS? An REHS is a professional who is responsible for protecting public health and the environment by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to environmental health. An REHS might conduct inspections and enforce regulations related to food safety, water and air quality, and hazardous waste management. REHSs also educate the public and businesses about environmental health issues and provide guidance on how to maintain a healthy and safe environment. REHSs work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations.

The REHS program. The REHS program is administered by the Environmental Management Branch of DPH. The REHS program ensures that REHSs have met prescribed education, training, and experience requirements and have passed a comprehensive examination reflective of the demands encountered within the environmental health profession. According to DPH's website, the minimum requirements include a Bachelor's degree from a four year college including 30 semester units of basic science coursework (courses must be for "science" or "biology" majors); up to 18 months experience depending on education and training typically at a local county environmental health department; and, passage of a comprehensive exam held three times a year in the Sacramento and Los Angeles areas.

REHS Ad Hoc Committee. According to information provided by the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH), co-sponsor of this bill, at the beginning of January 2025, CCDEH convened an Ad Hoc Committee to review the REHS statutes and build consensus on changes which would modernize the code and ease hiring hurdles at the local level. The 20-member committee is comprised of eight voting members (two members from each of CCDEH's four geographic regions); the CCDEH Executive Committee and partner organizations, including the County Health Executives Association of California, California Conference of Local Health Officers, and the California Environmental Health Association. The committee met weekly and moved systemically through the code, identifying sections that are producing hurdles to hiring and proposing new language to minimize the hurdles. Proposed changes were taken back to the environmental health (EH) directors in each region for approval which the voting members then used to cast their votes to recommend the changes to the CCDEH Executive Council proposed by this bill.

What does this bill do? This bill makes various changes to the scope, education, training and examination of REHS and EHS trainees as well as to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee, including extending the maximum training period from three years to five years to allow more time for EHS trainees to prepare for and pass the REHS examination and makes updates to the certification and training process with the intent of helping to retain the skilled environmental health professionals needed to protect public health. Please see the Assembly Health Committee analysis for more details on the major provisions and additional background.

According to the Author

Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS) play a critical role in protecting public health. The author states that REHS help ensure that the places we eat, the water we drink, and the places we live comply with health and safety standards so that we can enjoy our daily lives free from hazards caused by unsanitary or dangerous conditions. The author contends that this bill provides much-needed updates to the REHS trainee experience that will help retain and train skilled, science-focused professionals. The author states that this bill will strengthen California's public health organizational infrastructure, improve regulatory efficiency, and ensure that these professionals have the training and experience necessary to not just succeed, but also excel in their official positions once they pass their exams. The author concludes that evolving health and safety conditions require a workforce that can evolve with them and this will help our REHS meet those challenges head on.

Arguments in Support

The County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC) and California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) are the co-sponsors of this bill and state that certification for the REHS program is administered by DPH. The program ensures that certified REHS's have met adequate education, training and experience requirements and have passed a comprehensive state examination. While working towards certification, individuals may be employed as a REHS trainee by local health/environmental health departments for up to three years. However, limited examination offerings and strict time limitations governing how often a trainee may take the exam have resulted in trainees being reassigned or released – even if they wish to continue to pursue a career as a certified REHS. The current state exam passage rate averages around 60%. The co-sponsors note that this bill supports strengthening and sustaining the REHS workforce pipeline by extending the time needed to pass the REHS exam, increasing REHS testing opportunities, enhancing local training plans, and modernizing REHS educational requirements. They continue that this bill also provides more opportunities for entry-level employees to continue their careers with local health departments/environmental health departments.

Arguments in Opposition

None.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, unknown ongoing General Fund costs, likely low hundreds of thousands, for the California Department of Public Health for state administration.

VOTES:

ASM HEALTH: 16-0-0

YES: Bonta, Chen, Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Rogers, Carrillo, Flora, Mark González, Krell, Patel, Patterson, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Stefani

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0-0

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

UPDATED

VERSION: September 04, 2025

CONSULTANT: Eliza Brooks / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0001825

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 1288

Author: Addis (D) and Valencia (D)

Amended: 9/4/25 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 11-0, 7/2/25

AYES: Menjivar, Valladares, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grove, Limón, Padilla, Richardson, Rubio, Weber Pierson, Wiener

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/29/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/3/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Registered environmental health specialists

SOURCE: California Association of Environmental Health Administrators

County Health Executives Association of California

DIGEST:

This bill makes a number of changes to the requirements to be a registered environmental health specialist, including permitting an applicant who fails to pass the written examination to take the test again after 90 days, rather than the current limitation of waiting one year if the applicant failed the examination twice, and waiting two years if the applicant failed the examination a third or subsequent time. Extends the length of time an environmental health specialist trainee can be employed without having passed the examination from three years to five years. Makes various other minor, technical, and conforming changes to update the law governing registered environmental health specialists.

Senate Floor Amendments of 9/4/2025 delete language that would have permitted coursework to be taken virtually, and instead require the coursework to be taken in accordance with a provision of law requiring departmental approval of education programs for registered environmental health specialists. Additionally, the amendments delete a provision permitting a laboratory course to be done virtually with onsite, hands-on equipment and virtual real-time instruction.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Defines “registered environmental health specialist” (REHS) as an environmental health professional educated and trained within the field of environmental health who is registered in accordance with specified provisions of law, and defines “environmental health specialist trainee” as a person who possesses a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, including 30 semester units of basic sciences from an approved educational institution, but who has not completed the specific coursework and experience requirements in the field of environmental health as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. [Health and Safety Code (HSC) §106615(c) and (d)]
2. Defines “scope of practice in environmental health” as the practice of environmental health by REHSs in the public and private sector, and includes, but is not limited to, organization, management, education, enforcement, consultation, and emergency response for the purpose of prevention of environmental health hazards and promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in the following areas: food protection; housing; institutional environmental health; land use; community noise control; recreational swimming areas and waters; electromagnetic radiation control; solid, liquid, and hazardous materials management; underground storage tank control; onsite septic systems; vector control; drinking water quality; water sanitation; emergency preparedness; and milk and dairy sanitation as specified. [HSC §106615(e)]
3. Permits the governing body of a local health department to employ on a full-time basis one or more REHSs for the purposes of the enforcement of statutes and regulations related to public health and any local ordinances of a local health department that relate to activities specified in the scope of practice in environmental health. [HSC §106625]
4. Requires REHSs to have a bachelor’s degree, and establishes a framework for the length of experience and minimum number of hours of prescribed training the applicant must complete by laying out five different pathways based on how many units of specified science courses the applicant completed (explained in more detail in comment 3) below). [HSC §106635]
5. Permits an environmental health specialist trainee to be employed under the supervision of an REHS until the trainee is qualified by examination, for a period not to exceed three years. Prior to employment, requires the trainee to have a current evaluation letter from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) stating that the education qualifications, as specified, have been met. [HSC §106625]
6. Establishes the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee (EHSR Committee) consisting of the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch of CDPH, or CDPH’s designee, who serves as executive officer but does not have a vote, and 10 other members, as specified. Charges the EHSR Committee to advise and make recommendations to CDPH with respect to the proper administration and enforcement of the registration of REHSs. [HSC §106675]
7. Requires persons who meet the educational and experience requirements to be eligible for admission to examination for registration as an REHS. Requires the examination to be prescribed by CDPH with the concurrence of the EHSR Committee. Prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the examination twice from being eligible to be reexamined a third time until at least one year has elapsed from the date of the second examination. Specifies that an applicant who fails the third examination is not eligible to take the examination a fourth time until two years have elapsed from the date of the third examination. [HSC §106670]
8. Establishes the Safe Body Art Act to provide for the regulation of persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, branding, and the application of permanent cosmetics, enforced by local environmental health agencies. [HSC §119300, et seq.]

This bill:

1. Extends the length of time that an environmental health specialist trainee may be employed under the supervision of an REHS without having passed the required examination to become an REHS from three years to five years.
2. Deletes the prohibition on an applicant who failed the exam twice from being eligible to take it again until one year from the date of the second examination and from being eligible to take it a fourth time until two years after that, and instead requires applicants who fail the examination to wait 90 days between tests.
3. Revises the educational course requirements to become an REHS in the following ways:
   1. Conforms the number of required laboratory courses throughout the different pathways of meeting the minimum education and training requirements by requiring at least three of the basic science courses to include a laboratory in all pathways;
   2. Adds educational institutions that are approved by the National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC), in addition to educational institutions approved by the EHSR Committee, as meeting the criteria to use the educational and training pathway that does not require any additional training or experience to qualify for the REHS examination; and,
   3. Deletes a requirement that all basic science coursework, including mathematics, be equal to that acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program.
   4. Defines “basic sciences” as including life sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, and health sciences, and specifies that social science courses, such as sociology or psychology, do not count toward basic sciences.
4. Updates the scope of practice of an REHS to reflect the responsibility of local environmental health agencies to enforce provisions of law governing body art and medical waste.
5. Revises the required program elements in an approved environmental health training program by doing the following:
   1. Renaming a list of “basic” training elements to instead be “primary” training elements, and reducing the number of required primary elements in a training plan from six to three to provide additional flexibility in developing a training plan;
   2. Deleting bathing places as a primary training element, adding recreational health and body art to the list of primary training elements, and updating the terminology of other primary elements;
   3. Moving vector control to the list of secondary training elements and adding medical waste; and,
   4. Making other clarifying and technical changes to the required training program elements.
6. Deletes the limitation of no more than two successive four-year terms for members of the EHSR Committee, and specifies that the public members cannot currently be within the field of environmental health rather than not having been engaged in the field at any time within five years preceding their appointment.
7. Requires the EHSR Committee to meet quarterly, rather than twice annually, and permits the meeting to be virtual. Permits the Chairperson to cancel a meeting if there is insufficient business to warrant convening a scheduled meeting. Specifies that a simple majority of the filled committee seats constitutes a quorum, rather than six members, and makes other minor and technical changes to the EHSR Committee.
8. Requires the EHSR Committee to make the registry of all REHSs and all environmental health specialist trainees in the state publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.
9. Makes other minor, technical and clarifying changes.

Comments

According to the author of this bill:

“REHSs play a critical role in protecting public health. They help ensure that the places we eat, the water we drink, and the places we live comply with health and safety standards so that we can enjoy our daily lives free from hazards caused by unsanitary or dangerous conditions. This bill provides much-needed updates to the REHS trainee experience that will help retain and train skilled, science-focused professionals. This bill will strengthen California’s public health organizational infrastructure, improve regulatory efficiency, and ensure that these professionals have the training and experience necessary to not just succeed, but also excel in their official positions once they pass their exams. Evolving health and safety conditions require a workforce that can evolve with them, and this bill will help our REHSs meet those challenges head-on.”

Background

Background provided by the author. The REHS workforce has had difficulty recruiting and retaining professionals to maintain the essential services they provide. After meeting with stakeholders such as the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators and the County Health Executives Association of California, as well as polling county health departments themselves, several factors were identified as key contributors to this issue.

The first issue identified was the exacerbated stress levels associated with the time limit to take the REHS certification exam. When REHSs are chosen to serve as trainees, they can only hold this position, in which they receive training to conduct REHS duties, for a maximum of three years. After these three years, they would be released from their positions if they had not passed the exam. After this, many of the trainees choose not to pursue a REHS career, or they are reassigned to another position. Furthermore, every time a candidate fails the exam, they face increasingly harsh time penalties, reducing the number of times they can take the test, which is only offered three times a year. This combination causes stress around the process and has likely contributed to the average passing rate of about 55.6% over the past four years.

The second issue identified was overly rigid education requirements. The REHS field is a very broad field with responsibilities touching almost every aspect of our lives, so the professionals entering the workforce should be equally as diverse. Currently, state law requires basic science courses to match an approved environmental health degree program. This limits access for otherwise qualified candidates and creates unnecessary barriers to entering the field.

Finally, since the creation of the EHSR Committee, the language governing its operation has not been substantially updated to bring the committee into the modern era. Older, defunct positions are still mentioned in the leadership structure, and the committee has a difficult time establishing a quorum due to position vacancies. This makes it difficult for the EHSR Committee to conduct business and provide CDPH with recommendations regarding the proper administration and enforcement process of REHSs.

This bill is a product of an ad hoc committee. At the beginning of January 2025, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) convened an ad hoc committee to review the REHS statutes and build consensus on changes to modernize the code and ease hiring hurdles at the local level. The California Association of Environmental Health Administrators, a co-sponsor of this bill, is the advocacy arm of CCDEH. The ad hoc committee had eight voting members comprised of two members from each of CCDEH’s four geographic regions, plus included nonvoting members from the CCDEH Executive Committee and partner organizations, including the County Health Executives Association of California (the other co-sponsor), the California Conference of Local Health Officers, and the California Environmental Health Association. The ad hoc committee conducted a survey of environmental health directors to better understand hiring obstacles. When asked to identify the primary reasons that trainees could not pass the REHS exam, the top reasons were that a) the REHS exam is not reflective of REHS real-world job tasks; b) trainees struggled with test-taking in general; and, c) the trainee was not personally committed to preparing for the exam. The ad hoc committee met weekly, and proposed changes were taken back to the environmental health directors in each region for approval which the voting members then used to cast their votes to recommend the changes proposed by this bill.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, unknown ongoing General Fund costs, likely low hundreds of thousands, for CDPH for state administration.

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/4/25)

California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (co-source)

County Health Executives Association of California (co-source)

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

California Environmental Health Association

California State Association of Counties

California State Council of Service Employees International Union

City and County of San Francisco

City of Long Beach

City of Vernon

County of Alameda

County of Butte

County of Contra Costa

County of Del Norte

County of El Dorado

County of Fresno

County of Humboldt

County of Imperial

County of Inyo

County of Kings

County of Lassen

County of Los Angeles

County of Monterey

County of Orange

County of Riverside

County of Sacramento

County of San Bernardino

County of San Diego

County of San Luis Obispo

County of San Mateo

County of Sierra

County of Sonoma

County of Tulare

County of Yolo

Health Officers Association of California

Rural County Representatives of California

Urban Counties of California

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/4/25)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: This bill is co-sponsored by the County Health Executives Association of California and the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators, which submitted a joint letter in support. According to the sponsors, the REHS workforce ensures the health and safety of the general public via key environmental health services, including food safety and restaurant inspections, land use regulation, and water quality programs. While working toward certification, individuals may be employed as an REHS trainee for up to three years. However, limited examination offerings and strict limitations on how often a trainee may take the exam have resulted in trainees being reassigned or released, even if they wish to continue to pursue a career as a REHS. Initially, this bill was designed to extend the time in which REHS trainees could be employed from three to five years to allow more time to pass the certification exam. In recognizing the need for additional REHS workforce across the state, additional provisions were added to make it easier for people to become REHS trainees, and allow more opportunities to take the test. This bill will also increase the number of training topics local jurisdictions can cover to better prepare their trainees. The sponsors argue that all of the provisions of this bill are designed to strengthen and increase the local REHS workforce without increasing state costs or placing burdensome new duties on existing CDPH staff. Numerous counties and public health departments, SEIU California, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Health Officers Association of California, and other organizations support this bill, making similar arguments.

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/3/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

Prepared by: Vincent D. Marchand / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

9/8/25 21:40:11

**** END ****

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 1288

Author: Addis (D) and Valencia (D)

Amended: 8/29/25 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE: 11-0, 7/2/25

AYES: Menjivar, Valladares, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grove, Limón, Padilla, Richardson, Rubio, Weber Pierson, Wiener

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/29/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/3/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Registered environmental health specialists

SOURCE: California Association of Environmental Health Administrators

County Health Executives Association of California

DIGEST:

This bill makes a number of changes to the requirements to be a registered environmental health specialist, including permitting an applicant who fails to pass the written examination to take the test again after 90 days, rather than the current limitation of waiting one year if the applicant failed the examination twice, and waiting two years if the applicant failed the examination a third or subsequent time. Extends the length of time an environmental health specialist trainee can be employed without having passed the examination from three years to five years. Makes various other minor, technical, and conforming changes to update the law governing registered environmental health specialists.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Defines “registered environmental health specialist” (REHS) as an environmental health professional educated and trained within the field of environmental health who is registered in accordance with specified provisions of law, and defines “environmental health specialist trainee” as a person who possesses a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, including 30 semester units of basic sciences from an approved educational institution, but who has not completed the specific coursework and experience requirements in the field of environmental health as specified, and who is engaged in an approved environmental health training plan. [Health and Safety Code (HSC) §106615(c) and (d)]
2. Defines “scope of practice in environmental health” as the practice of environmental health by REHSs in the public and private sector, and includes, but is not limited to, organization, management, education, enforcement, consultation, and emergency response for the purpose of prevention of environmental health hazards and promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in the following areas: food protection; housing; institutional environmental health; land use; community noise control; recreational swimming areas and waters; electromagnetic radiation control; solid, liquid, and hazardous materials management; underground storage tank control; onsite septic systems; vector control; drinking water quality; water sanitation; emergency preparedness; and milk and dairy sanitation as specified. [HSC §106615(e)]
3. Permits the governing body of a local health department to employ on a full-time basis one or more REHSs for the purposes of the enforcement of statutes and regulations related to public health and any local ordinances of a local health department that relate to activities specified in the scope of practice in environmental health. [HSC §106625]
4. Requires REHSs to have a bachelor’s degree, and establishes a framework for the length of experience and minimum number of hours of prescribed training the applicant must complete by laying out five different pathways based on how many units of specified science courses the applicant completed (explained in more detail in comment 3) below). [HSC §106635]
5. Permits an environmental health specialist trainee to be employed under the supervision of an REHS until the trainee is qualified by examination, for a period not to exceed three years. Prior to employment, requires the trainee to have a current evaluation letter from CDPH stating that the education qualifications, as specified, have been met. [HSC §106625]
6. Establishes the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee (EHSR Committee) consisting of the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch of CDPH, or CDPH’s designee, who serves as executive officer but does not have a vote, and 10 other members, as specified. Charges the EHSR Committee to advise and make recommendations to CDPH with respect to the proper administration and enforcement of the registration of REHSs. [HSC §106675]
7. Requires persons who meet the educational and experience requirements to be eligible for admission to examination for registration as an REHS. Requires the examination to be prescribed by CDPH with the concurrence of the EHSR Committee. Prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the examination twice from being eligible to be reexamined a third time until at least one year has elapsed from the date of the second examination. Specifies that an applicant who fails the third examination is not eligible to take the examination a fourth time until two years have elapsed from the date of the third examination. [HSC §106670]
8. Establishes the Safe Body Art Act to provide for the regulation of persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, branding, and the application of permanent cosmetics, enforced by local environmental health agencies. [HSC §119300, et seq.]

This bill:

1. Extends the length of time that an environmental health specialist trainee may be employed under the supervision of an REHS without having passed the required examination to become an REHS from three years to five years.
2. Deletes the prohibition on an applicant who failed the exam twice from being eligible to take it again until one year from the date of the second examination and from being eligible to take it a fourth time until two years after that, and instead requires applicants who fail the examination to wait 90 days between tests.
3. Revises the educational course requirements to become an REHS in the following ways:
   1. Specifies that coursework can be taken in person, virtually, or a combination of in person and virtually;
   2. Conforms the number of required laboratory courses throughout the different pathways of meeting the minimum education and training requirements by requiring at least three of the basic science courses to include a laboratory in all pathways;
   3. Adds educational institutions that are approved by the National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC), in addition to educational institutions approved by the EHSR Committee, as meeting the criteria to use the educational and training pathway that does not require any additional training or experience to qualify for the REHS examination; and,
   4. Deletes a requirement that all basic science coursework, including mathematics, be equal to that acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program.
   5. Defines “basic sciences” as including life sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, and health sciences, and specifies that social science courses, such as sociology or psychology, do not count toward basic sciences.
   6. Requires, for a laboratory to count towards basic science coursework, that it be in person, with real-time instruction, or virtually with onsite, real, hands-on equipment and virtual real-time instruction during an experiment.
4. Updates the scope of practice of an REHS to reflect the responsibility of local environmental health agencies to enforce provisions of law governing body art and medical waste.
5. Revises the required program elements in an approved environmental health training program by doing the following:
   1. Renaming a list of “basic” training elements to instead be “primary” training elements, and reducing the number of required primary elements in a training plan from six to three to provide additional flexibility in developing a training plan;
   2. Deleting bathing places as a primary training element, adding recreational health and body art to the list of primary training elements, and updating the terminology of other primary elements;
   3. Moving vector control to the list of secondary training elements and adding medical waste; and,
   4. Making other clarifying and technical changes to the required training program elements.
6. Deletes the limitation of no more than two successive four-year terms for members of the EHSR Committee, and specifies that the public members cannot currently be within the field of environmental health rather than not having been engaged in the field at any time within five years preceding their appointment.
7. Requires the EHSR Committee to meet quarterly, rather than twice annually, and permits the meeting to be virtual. Permits the Chairperson to cancel a meeting if there is insufficient business to warrant convening a scheduled meeting. Specifies that a simple majority of the filled committee seats constitutes a quorum, rather than six members, and makes other minor and technical changes to the EHSR Committee.
8. Requires the EHSR Committee to make the registry of all REHSs and all environmental health specialist trainees in the state publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.
9. Makes other minor, technical and clarifying changes.

Comments

According to the author of this bill:

REHSs play a critical role in protecting public health. They help ensure that the places we eat, the water we drink, and the places we live comply with health and safety standards so that we can enjoy our daily lives free from hazards caused by unsanitary or dangerous conditions. This bill provides much-needed updates to the REHS trainee experience that will help retain and train skilled, science-focused professionals. This bill will strengthen California’s public health organizational infrastructure, improve regulatory efficiency, and ensure that these professionals have the training and experience necessary to not just succeed, but also excel in their official positions once they pass their exams. Evolving health and safety conditions require a workforce that can evolve with them, and this bill will help our REHSs meet those challenges head-on.

Background

Background provided by the author. The REHS workforce has had difficulty recruiting and retaining professionals to maintain the essential services they provide. After meeting with stakeholders such as the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators and the County Health Executives Association of California, as well as polling county health departments themselves, several factors were identified as key contributors to this issue.

The first issue identified was the exacerbated stress levels associated with the time limit to take the REHS certification exam. When REHSs are chosen to serve as trainees, they can only hold this position, in which they receive training to conduct REHS duties, for a maximum of three years. After these three years, they would be released from their positions if they had not passed the exam. After this, many of the trainees choose not to pursue a REHS career, or they are reassigned to another position. Furthermore, every time a candidate fails the exam, they face increasingly harsh time penalties, reducing the number of times they can take the test, which is only offered three times a year. This combination causes stress around the process and has likely contributed to the average passing rate of about 55.6% over the past four years.

The second issue identified was overly rigid education requirements. The REHS field is a very broad field with responsibilities touching almost every aspect of our lives, so the professionals entering the workforce should be equally as diverse. Currently, state law requires basic science courses to match an approved environmental health degree program. This limits access for otherwise qualified candidates and creates unnecessary barriers to entering the field.

Finally, since the creation of the EHSR Committee, the language governing its operation has not been substantially updated to bring the committee into the modern era. Older, defunct positions are still mentioned in the leadership structure, and the committee has a difficult time establishing a quorum due to position vacancies. This makes it difficult for the EHSR Committee to conduct business and provide CDPH with recommendations regarding the proper administration and enforcement process of REHSs.

This bill is a product of an ad hoc committee. At the beginning of January 2025, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) convened an ad hoc committee to review the REHS statutes and build consensus on changes to modernize the code and ease hiring hurdles at the local level. The California Association of Environmental Health Administrators, a co-sponsor of this bill, is the advocacy arm of CCDEH. The ad hoc committee had eight voting members comprised of two members from each of CCDEH’s four geographic regions, plus included nonvoting members from the CCDEH Executive Committee and partner organizations, including the County Health Executives Association of California (the other co-sponsor), the California Conference of Local Health Officers, and the California Environmental Health Association. The ad hoc committee conducted a survey of environmental health directors to better understand hiring obstacles. When asked to identify the primary reasons that trainees could not pass the REHS exam, the top reasons were that a) the REHS exam is not reflective of REHS real-world job tasks; b) trainees struggled with test-taking in general; and, c) the trainee was not personally committed to preparing for the exam. The ad hoc committee met weekly, and proposed changes were taken back to the environmental health directors in each region for approval which the voting members then used to cast their votes to recommend the changes proposed by this bill.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, unknown ongoing General Fund costs, likely low hundreds of thousands, for CDPH for state administration.

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/2/25)

California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (co-source)

County Health Executives Association of California (co-source)

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

California Environmental Health Association

California State Association of Counties

California State Council of Service Employees International Union

City and County of San Francisco

City of Long Beach

City of Vernon

County of Alameda

County of Butte

County of Contra Costa

County of Del Norte

County of El Dorado

County of Fresno

County of Humboldt

County of Imperial

County of Inyo

County of Kings

County of Lassen

County of Los Angeles

County of Monterey

County of Orange

County of Riverside

County of Sacramento

County of San Bernardino

County of San Diego

County of San Luis Obispo

County of San Mateo

County of Sierra

County of Sonoma

County of Tulare

County of Yolo

Health Officers Association of California

Rural County Representatives of California

Urban Counties of California

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/2/25)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: This bill is co-sponsored by the County Health Executives Association of California and the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators, which submitted a joint letter in support. According to the sponsors, the REHS workforce ensures the health and safety of the general public via key environmental health services, including food safety and restaurant inspections, land use regulation, and water quality programs. While working toward certification, individuals may be employed as an REHS trainee for up to three years. However, limited examination offerings and strict limitations on how often a trainee may take the exam have resulted in trainees being reassigned or released, even if they wish to continue to pursue a career as a REHS. Initially, this bill was designed to extend the time in which REHS trainees could be employed from three to five years to allow more time to pass the certification exam. In recognizing the need for additional REHS workforce across the state, additional provisions were added to make it easier for people to become REHS trainees, and allow more opportunities to take the test. This bill will also increase the number of training topics local jurisdictions can cover to better prepare their trainees. The sponsors argue that all of the provisions of this bill are designed to strengthen and increase the local REHS workforce without increasing state costs or placing burdensome new duties on existing CDPH staff. Numerous counties and public health departments, SEIU California, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Health Officers Association of California, and other organizations support this bill, making similar arguments.

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/3/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

Prepared by: Vincent D. Marchand / HEALTH / (916) 651-4111

9/2/25 18:19:13

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 1288 (Addis) - Registered environmental health specialists

Bill Summary:

AB 1288 would make changes to the certification process for registered environmental health specialists.

*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********

The following information is revised to reflect amendments

adopted by the committee on August 29, 2025

Fiscal Impact:

Unknown ongoing General Fund costs, likely low hundreds of thousands, for the California Department of Public Health for state administration.

Author Amendments:

Revise and clarify requirements for educational coursework, and make technical changes.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 1288 (Addis) - Registered environmental health specialists

Bill Summary:

AB 1288 would make changes to the certification process for registered environmental health specialists.

Fiscal Impact:

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) estimates annual General Fund costs of $200,000 starting in 2026-27 for state administration and additional annual General Fund costs of $91,000 in 2026-27 through 2028-29 to promulgate regulations.

Background:

Current law provides for the certification of registered environmental health specialists (REHS) by the CDPH and establishes education, training, and examination requirements for this certification. The scope of practice in environmental health, for these purposes, includes the organization, management, education, enforcement, consultation, and emergency response for the purpose of prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in the following areas: food protection; housing; institutional environmental health; land use; community noise control; recreational swimming areas and waters; electromagnetic radiation control; solid, liquid, and hazardous materials management; underground storage tank control; onsite septic systems; vector control; drinking water quality; water sanitation; emergency preparedness; and milk and dairy sanitation. Current law requires the appointment of an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to advise and to make recommendations to CDPH with respect to the administration and enforcement of the registration of environmental health specialists.

Proposed Law:

Specific provisions of the bill would:

• Add to the scope of practice of an REHS to include body art and medical waste.
• Revise the educational course requirements to become an REHS, as specified.
• Revise the required program elements in an approved environmental health training program, as specified.
• Extend the length of time that an environmental health specialist trainee may be employed under the supervision of an REHS, from three years to five years.
• Revise the requirements for reexaminations for applicants who fail to pass the REHS examination, as specified.
• Make changes to requirements related to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee.

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 1288

Author:(Addis and Valencia)

As Amended Ver:April 10, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Makes various changes to the scope, education, training, and examination of registered environmental health specialists (REHS) and environmental health specialist (EHS) trainees as well as to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee.

Major Provisions

1. Adds body art and medical waste to the scope of practice of REHSs.
2. Revises the educational requirements for the registration of an REHS to include science courses designated by the educational institution for science or clinical health care degrees, among other changes.
3. Updates the definition of an EHS trainee to include the requirement that they are engaged in an approved environmental health training plan.
4. Revises and recasts the environmental health training requirements to include training in at least three of the following primary elements: food safety, solid waste, liquid waste, water quality, housing and institutions, recreational health, body art, hazardous materials, or other Certified Unified Program Agency elements.
5. Allows additional training content to include any other primary element listed above or any of the following secondary elements: air sanitation, safety and accident prevention, land development and use, disaster sanitation, radiation, milk and dairy products, noise control, occupational health, medical waste, or vector control.
6. Extends the period of time that an EHS trainee is authorized to work under the supervision of a REHS, from three years to five years.
7. Changes requirements related to the REHS examination, deleting various restrictions on re-taking the examination and instead allowing an applicant who fails to pass the written examination to be reexamined after 90 days from the date of the previous examination.
8. Changes the executive officer of the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee from the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch to the State Environmental Health Director and makes technical, clarifying changes to the terminology to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director. Makes other changes to the Committee membership rules.
9. Increases the frequency of REHS meetings from at least twice annually to at least quarterly.
10. Requires the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to make its registry of all REHSs and all EHS trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.

COMMENTS

What is an REHS? An REHS is a professional who is responsible for protecting public health and the environment by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to environmental health. An REHS might conduct inspections and enforce regulations related to food safety, water and air quality, and hazardous waste management. REHSs also educate the public and businesses about environmental health issues and provide guidance on how to maintain a healthy and safe environment. REHSs work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations.

The REHS program. The REHS program is administered by the Environmental Management Branch of DPH. The REHS program ensures that REHSs have met prescribed education, training, and experience requirements and have passed a comprehensive examination reflective of the demands encountered within the environmental health profession. According to DPH's website, the minimum requirements include a Bachelor's degree from a four year college including 30 semester units of basic science coursework (courses must be for "science" or "biology" majors); up to 18 months experience depending on education and training typically at a local county environmental health department; and, passage of a comprehensive exam held three times a year in the Sacramento and Los Angeles areas.

REHS Ad Hoc Committee. According to information provided by the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH), co-sponsor of this bill, at the beginning of January 2025, CCDEH convened an Ad Hoc Committee to review the REHS statutes and build consensus on changes which would modernize the code and ease hiring hurdles at the local level. The 20-member committee is comprised of eight voting members (two members from each of CCDEH's four geographic regions); the CCDEH Executive Committee and partner organizations, including the County Health Executives Association of California, California Conference of Local Health Officers, and the California Environmental Health Association. The committee met weekly and moved systemically through the code, identifying sections that are producing hurdles to hiring and proposing new language to minimize the hurdles. Proposed changes were taken back to the environmental health (EH) directors in each region for approval which the voting members then used to cast their votes to recommend the changes to the CCDEH Executive Council proposed by this bill.

What does this bill do? This bill makes various changes to the scope, education, training and examination of REHS and EHS trainees as well as to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee, including extending the maximum training period from three years to five years to allow more time for EHS trainees to prepare for and pass the REHS examination and makes updates to the certification and training process with the intent of helping to retain the skilled environmental health professionals needed to protect public health. Please see the Assembly Health Committee analysis for more details on the major provisions and additional background.

According to the Author

Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS) play a critical role in protecting public health. The author states that REHS help ensure that the places we eat, the water we drink, and the places we live comply with health and safety standards so that we can enjoy our daily lives free from hazards caused by unsanitary or dangerous conditions. The author contends that this bill provides much-needed updates to the REHS trainee experience that will help retain and train skilled, science-focused professionals. The author states that this bill will strengthen California's public health organizational infrastructure, improve regulatory efficiency, and ensure that these professionals have the training and experience necessary to not just succeed, but also excel in their official positions once they pass their exams. The author concludes that evolving health and safety conditions require a workforce that can evolve with them and this will help our REHS meet those challenges head on.

Arguments in Support

The County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC) and California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) are the co-sponsors of this bill and state that certification for the REHS program is administered by DPH. The program ensures that certified REHS's have met adequate education, training and experience requirements and have passed a comprehensive state examination. While working towards certification, individuals may be employed as a REHS trainee by local health/environmental health departments for up to three years. However, limited examination offerings and strict time limitations governing how often a trainee may take the exam have resulted in trainees being reassigned or released – even if they wish to continue to pursue a career as a certified REHS. The current state exam passage rate averages around 60%. The co-sponsors note that this bill supports strengthening and sustaining the REHS workforce pipeline by extending the time needed to pass the REHS exam, increasing REHS testing opportunities, enhancing local training plans, and modernizing REHS educational requirements. They continue that this bill also provides more opportunities for entry-level employees to continue their careers with local health departments/environmental health departments.

Arguments in Opposition

None.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, DPH estimates ongoing General Fund costs of $200,000 per year, starting in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 to implement the provisions of this bill. In addition, DPH will require $91,000 each FY from 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to promulgate regulations.

VOTES

ASM HEALTH: 16-0-0

YES: Bonta, Chen, Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Rogers, Carrillo, Flora, Mark González, Krell, Patel, Patterson, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Stefani

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

UPDATED

VERSION: April 10, 2025

CONSULTANT: Eliza Brooks / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0000736

Date of Hearing: May 14, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1288

Author:(Addis) – As Amended Ver:April 10, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill makes various changes to the scope, education, training, and examination of registered environmental health specialists (REHSs) and environmental health specialist (EHS) trainees as well as to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee.

Specifically, this bill:

1. Adds body art and medical waste to the scope of practice of REHSs.
   
2. Revises the educational requirements for the registration of an REHS to include science courses designated by the educational institution for science or clinical health care degrees, among other changes.
   
3. Updates the definition of an EHS trainee to include the requirement that they are engaged in an approved environmental health training plan.
   
4. Revises and recasts the environmental health training requirements to include training in at least three of the following primary elements: food safety, solid waste, liquid waste, water quality, housing and institutions, recreational health, body art, hazardous materials, or other Certified Unified Program Agency elements.
   
5. Allows additional training content to include any other primary element listed above or any of the following secondary elements: air sanitation, safety and accident prevention, land development and use, disaster sanitation, radiation, milk and dairy products, noise control, occupational health, medical waste, or vector control.
   
6. Extends the period of time that an EHS trainee is authorized to work under the supervision of a REHS, from three years to five years.
   
7. Changes requirements related to the REHS examination, deleting various restrictions on re-taking the examination and instead allowing an applicant who fails to pass the written examination to be reexamined after 90 days from the date of the previous examination.
   
8. Changes the executive officer of the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee from the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch to the State Environmental Health Director and makes technical, clarifying changes to the terminology to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director. Makes other changes to the Committee membership rules.
   
9. Increases the frequency of REHS meetings from at least twice annually to at least quarterly.
   
10. Requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to make its registry of all REHSs and all EHS trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.

FISCAL EFFECT:

CDPH estimates ongoing General Fund costs of $200,000 per year, starting in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 to implement the provisions of this bill. In addition, CDPH will require $91,000 each FY from 2026-27 through FY 2028-29 to promulgate regulations.

COMMENTS:

Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators, California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH), and the County Health Executives Association of California. According to the author:

[REHSs] play a critical role in protecting public health. They help ensure that the places we eat, the water we drink, and the places we live comply with health and safety standards so that we can enjoy our daily lives free from hazards caused by unsanitary or dangerous conditions. AB 1288 provides much-needed updates to the [REHS] trainee experience that will help retain and train skilled, science-focused professionals. This bill will strengthen California’s public health organizational infrastructure, improve regulatory efficiency, and ensure that these professionals have the training and experience necessary to not just succeed, but also excel in their official positions once they pass their exams. Evolving health and safety conditions require a workforce that can evolve with them and AB 1288 will help our [REHSs] meet those challenges head on.

Background. What is an REHS? An REHS is a professional who is responsible for protecting public health and the environment by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to environmental health. An REHS might conduct inspections and enforce regulations related to food safety, water and air quality, and hazardous waste management. REHSs also educate the public and businesses about environmental health issues and provide guidance on how to maintain a healthy and safe environment. REHSs work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations.

REHS Ad Hoc Committee. According to CCDEH, at the beginning of January 2025, CCDEH convened an ad hoc committee to review the REHS statutes and build consensus on changes to modernize the code and ease hiring hurdles at the local level. The committee met weekly and moved systemically through the code, identifying sections that obstruct hiring, and proposing new language. The committee proposed changes and sought approval from environmental health directors in each region. The process resulted in the policy changes proposed by this bill.

Analysis Prepared by: Allegra Kim / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 22, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Mia Bonta, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1288

Author:(Addis) – As Amended Ver:April 10, 2025

SUBJECT: Registered environmental health specialists.

SUMMARY: Makes various changes to the scope, education, training, and examination of registered environmental health specialists (REHS) and environmental health specialist (EHS) trainees as well as to the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee. Specifically, this bill:

REHS Scope of Practice

1. Includes body art and medical waste in the scope of practice of REHS.

REHS Educational Requirements

1. Revises the educational requirements for the registration of an REHS by striking the references to basic science and replacing with a reference to science courses designated for science or clinical health care degrees by the educational institution as prescribed in Existing Law 5) below.
2. Specifies that three of the required science courses must include a laboratory in options I and II as prescribed in Existing Law 5) below.
3. Adds a bachelor’s degree in environmental health from a National Environment Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) approved institution as an acceptable option under Option V of Existing Law 5) below.
4. Deletes the requirement that basic science coursework be equal to what is acceptable in an approved environmental health degree program within options I to V of Existing Law 5) below.

EHS Training

1. Updates the definition of an EHS trainee to include the requirement that they are engaged in an approved environmental health training plan.
2. Revises and recasts the environmental health training elements to require training in at least three of the following primary elements:
   1. Food safety;
   2. Solid waste;
   3. Liquid waste;
   4. Water quality;
   5. Housing and institutions;
   6. Recreational Health;
   7. Body art; and,
   8. Hazardous materials or other Certified Unified Program Agency elements.
3. Revises and recasts existing law to allow additional training content to include any other primary element listed above or any of the following secondary elements: air sanitation, safety and accident prevention, land development and use, disaster sanitation, radiation, milk and dairy products, noise control, occupational health, medical waste and vector control.
4. Requires training in the selected primary elements to not be less than 20% of the total required training hours.
5. Requires additional training to not be less than 40% of the total required training hours.

EHS Trainee Supervision

1. Deletes the daily frequency of the training log required by Existing Law 9) below and clarifies that the log is required to be maintained by the local director of environmental health or the director’s designee.
2. Deletes the requirement that the training log required by 9) in Existing Law below covering elements and hours of all training kept by EHS trainees is to be verified by their trainer or supervisor on a weekly basis.
3. Extends the period of time that an environmental health specialist trainee is authorized to work under the supervision of a REHS from three years to five years.

REHS Examination

1. Defines “examination” as a written professional examination prescribed by the Department of Public Health (DPH), administered in person or online, for registration as an REHS.
2. Changes the process after failure of the REHS examination as follows:
   1. Deletes the current requirement that an applicant who twice fails to pass the written REHS examination is ineligible to be reexamined a third time until at least one year has elapsed from the date of the second examination;
   2. Deletes the requirement that an applicant who fails the third examination is ineligible to take the examination a fourth time until two years have elapsed from the date of the third examination;
   3. Deletes the prohibition for an applicant to take the examination more frequently than once in two years; and,
   4. Instead prohibits an applicant who fails to pass the written examination from being eligible to be reexamined until 90 days have elapsed from the date of the previous examination.

REHS Committee

1. Changes the executive officer of the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee from the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch to the State Environmental Health Director and makes technical, clarifying changes to the terminology used in those and related provisions to distinguish local directors of environmental health from the State Environmental Health Director.
2. Revises the education members of the committee from two members from environmental health faculty from California universities and colleges to two members from environmental health or public health faculty, with at least one from environmental health faculty.
3. Deletes the prohibition on the two public health members from being engaged in the field of environmental health in the five years preceding their appointment and instead prohibits the public members from being currently engaged within the field of environmental health or profession regulated by the committee of which they are members.
4. Eliminates the prohibition on a committee member serving more than two successive terms.
5. Deletes the requirement that a committee member serve until one year after the expiration of their term and requires a committee member to serve until the appointment and qualification of their successor.
6. Increases the frequency of REHS meetings from at least twice annually to at least quarterly and specifies that the committee is authorized to meet in person or virtually.
7. Includes updating transcript review guidelines in the business of the committee.
8. Changes the quorum requirement of the REHS Committee from six members to a simple majority of the filled committee seats.
9. Authorizes the Chairperson of the REHS Committee to cancel a meeting, at their discretion, if there is insufficient business to warrant convening a scheduled meeting.
10. Specifies that the REHS Committee is required to keep a record of its meetings.

REHS Registry of REHS Specialists and REHS Trainees

1. Requires DPH to make its registry of all registered environmental health specialists and all environmental health specialist trainees publicly available on its internet website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Provides for the certification of REHS by DPH, and establishes application, examination, and renewal fees for this certification. [Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 10615]
2. Defines the scope of practice for a registered environmental health professionals to include, but not be limited to, the prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in specified areas, including, among others, food protection, housing, and hazardous materials management. [Ibid.]
3. Authorizes a local health department to employ an REHS to enforce public health laws, as specified. [HSC § 106625]
4. Authorizes an environmental health specialist (EHS) trainee to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed three years. [Ibid.]
5. Prescribes the requirements for an REHS to be a bachelor’s degree from a DPH approved educational institution or an educational institution of collegiate grade listed in the directory of accredited institutions of postsecondary education compiled by the American Council on Education, with coursework as specified. [HSC § 106635]
6. Requires all EHS trainees to complete a basic training period in an approved environmental health training program. Requires the training period include training in at least six elements, with three of the elements selected from the following basic elements:
   1. Food protection;
   2. Solid or liquid waste management, or both;
   3. Water supply;
   4. Housing and institutions;
   5. Bathing places;
   6. Vector control; and,
   7. Hazardous materials management or underground tank program, or both. [HSC § 106665]
7. Authorizes the remaining three elements to include any other basic element or any of the following elements: air sanitation, safety and accident prevention, land development and use, disaster sanitation, electromagnetic radiation, milk and dairy products, noise control, occupational health, and rabies and animal disease control. [Ibid.]
8. Requires a daily log for the certification of the EHS trainee to be maintained by the local director of environmental health. [HSC § 106665]
9. Requires a daily log covering elements and hours spent of all training to be kept by the environmental health specialist trainees, and verified by the trainer or supervisor on a weekly basis. [HSC § 106665]
10. Requires training in each of three basic elements to not be less than 20% of the total required training hours. Requires time spent in the remaining three elements be not less than 40% of the total required training hours. Requires the employer to designate the methods, elements, and types of training or experience for the remaining time required for entrance to the registered environmental health specialist examination, as specified. Authorizes the specified training to be cumulative and scheduled at the discretion of the employing agency over this period. [HSC § 106670]
11. Prohibits an applicant who twice fails to pass the written REHS examination from being eligible to be reexamined a third time until at least one year has elapsed from the date of the second examination. Prohibits an applicant who fails the third examination from being eligible to take the examination a fourth time until two years have elapsed from the date of the third examination. Prohibits thereafter the examination from being taken more frequently than once in two years. Requires reapplication to be made by submitting a new application with the required fee. [HSC § 106670]
12. Requires an Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee (EHSRC) to be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to DPH. [HSC § 106675]
13. Prescribes the membership of the committee, including members with experience as local directors of environmental health, and the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, who serves as executive officer in a nonvoting role. [Ibid.]
14. Prohibits the two public members of the committee from being engaged at any time within five years immediately preceding their appointments in pursuits that lie within the field of environmental health or the profession regulated by the committee of which they are members. [HSC § 106675]
15. Prescribes the terms of the committee members, as specified, and authorizes a committee member to serve no more than two successive terms, and further requires each member to serve on the committee until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year has elapsed since the expiration of the term for which they were appointed, whichever is later. [HSC § 106680]
16. Requires the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee to meet at least twice annually and at other times as it may determine to evaluate applications for registration as environmental health specialists, to review and update examinations to prepare and recommend reports relative to the administration of this article, and to transact all other business as necessary. [HSC § 106685]
17. Requires six members to constitute a quorum of the EHSRC. [HSC § 106685]
18. Requires DPH to maintain a current registry of all REHS and all EHS trainees in the state. [HSC § 106690]

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill has not yet been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

1. PURPOSE OF THIS BILL. According to the author, Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS) play a critical role in protecting public health. The author states that REHS help ensure that the places we eat, the water we drink, and the places we live comply with health and safety standards so that we can enjoy our daily lives free from hazards caused by unsanitary or dangerous conditions. The author contends that this bill provides much-needed updates to the REHS trainee experience that will help retain and train skilled, science-focused professionals. The author states that this bill will strengthen California’s public health organizational infrastructure, improve regulatory efficiency, and ensure that these professionals have the training and experience necessary to not just succeed, but also excel in their official positions once they pass their exams. The author concludes that evolving health and safety conditions require a workforce that can evolve with them and this will help our REHS meet those challenges head on.
2. BACKGROUND.
   1. What do REHS do? A REHS is a professional who is responsible for protecting public health and the environment by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to environmental health. This may include inspecting and enforcing regulations related to food safety, water and air quality, and hazardous waste management. REHSs also play a crucial role in educating the public and businesses about environmental health issues and providing guidance on how to maintain a healthy and safe environment. REHS’ may work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations.
   2. The REHS program. The REHS program is administered by the Environmental Management Branch of DPH. The REHS program ensures that REHSs have met prescribed education, training, and experience requirements and have passed a comprehensive examination reflective of the demands encountered within the environmental health profession. According to DPH’s website, the minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree from a four year college including 30 semester units of basic science coursework (courses must be for “science” or “biology” majors); up to 18 months experience depending on education and training typically at a local county environmental health department; and, passage of a comprehensive exam held three times a year in the Sacramento and Los Angeles areas.
   3. REHS Ad Hoc Committee. According to information provided by the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH, co-sponsor of this bill), at the beginning of January 2025, CCDEH convened an Ad Hoc Committee to review the REHS statutes and build consensus on changes which would modernize the code and ease hiring hurdles at the local level. The 20-member committee is comprised of eight voting members (two members from each of CCDEH’s four geographic regions); the CCDEH Executive Committee and partner organizations, including the County Health Executives Association of California, California Conference of Local Health Officers, and the California Environmental Health Association. The committee met weekly and moved systemically through the code, identifying sections that are producing hurdles to hiring and proposing new language to minimize the hurdles. Proposed changes were taken back to the environmental health (EH) directors in each region for approval which the voting members then used to cast their votes to recommend the changes to the CCDEH Executive Council proposed by this bill.
   4. CCDEH Survey. The CCDEH Ad Hoc Committee conducted a survey in February 2025 of EH Directors to better understand hiring obstacles. Sixty-one percent of EH Directors responded to the survey. The number of trainees employed by jurisdictions ranged from zero to 56 with the most frequent number being four. Eighty-four percent of jurisdictions reported hiring REHSs within the last five years, with the number of hired trainees ranging from 0 to 46. The median number of trainees hired by jurisdictions was 3.5. However, 18% of jurisdictions reported having to release trainees in the last five years because trainees could not pass the REHS exam; the number of released trainees ranged from one to six. Two jurisdictions reported being able to re-assign trainees to other positions. Respondents were asked to identify the primary reasons that trainees could not pass the REHS exam; the top reasons were:
      1. REHS exam is not reflective of REHS real-world job tasks;
      2. Trainee struggled with test-taking in general; and,
      3. Trainee was not personally committed to preparing for the exam.
   5. Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations. According to the CCDEH Ad Hoc Committee, its findings suggest a variety of changes in REHS statute and DPH implementation in order to increase to address the REHS workforce shortage, including the below.
      1. Modernize REHS exam procedures so that it is easier for trainees to take the test, including increasing exam frequency, removing restrictions which limit the number of times a trainee can take the exam; and modernizing the testing procedure by moving from a pen-and-paper test to an online test.

This bill allows applicants to retake the exam 90 days after failing it in order to provide trainees with more frequent opportunities to take the exam.

• • 1. Update the form and content of the REHS exam to be more reflective of current REHS duties and topic areas and restructure the exam so it can be administered online.

This bill updates the lists of primary and secondary training plan topics and maintains the requirement for a training log but remove the ‘daily’ frequency. The author’s intent is to allow jurisdictions to better align their on-the-job training programs (dictated by statute) with job tasks and REHS exam topics and enable better preparation of trainees for the exam.

• • 1. Improve the operating efficiency of the REHS Committee which advises DPH on exam content, educational requirements, and oversees REHS disciplinary actions.

This bill makes various updates to the REHS Committee with the intent of improving its operating efficiency. One of the changes is the increased frequency of the committee meetings from at least twice a year to at least quarterly, which the author and sponsors contend would allow the committee to make more timely decisions on REHS Exam content. Another change is revised definition of a quorum to make it a simple majority of seated members, which the author and sponsors suggest would make it easier to achieve a quorum.

Additionally, while existing law requires DPH to maintain a current registry of all REHS and environmental health specialist trainees, this bill further requires DPH to post the REHS registry within 90 days of each exam, with the intent of providing jurisdictions with timely access to the list of people who have passed the REHS Exam.

• • 1. Update local REHS training requirements by increasing the number of environmental health topics which can be covered during required training hours.

This bill revises and recasts the environmental health training elements to require training in at least three of the following primary elements, as well as any other primary element or any of the secondary elements. This bill further requires training in the selected primary elements to not be less than 20% of the total required training hours and requires additional training to not be less than 40% of the total required training hours

• • 1. Clarify educational requirements by allowing a larger number of college graduates with science degrees to be eligible for the REHS exam.

Statute prescribes the educational requirements for prospective registered environmental health specialists. This bill revises the educational requirements for the registration of an REHS by striking the references to basic science and replacing it with a reference to science courses designated for science or clinical health care degrees by the educational institution in order to meet the previously stated intent and adds a bachelor’s degree in environmental health from a National Environment Science & Protection Accreditation Council approved institution as an acceptable option under Option V of existing law as prescribed.

• 1. What is the challenge with the existing employment period for a REHS trainee? According to information provided by the author and sponsors, the current three-year maximum employment period for environmental health specialist trainees is creating significant recruitment and retention challenges for local health and environmental health departments. There are limited opportunities to take the state-administered exam required to become an REHS, and trainees who fail the required exam within this period must be released from employment or reassigned, leading to a loss of qualified, science-based staff. This has forced local departments across the state to release their trainees, in which they have invested a substantial amount of time, money, and effort, from employment if they cannot pass the exam within three years. This bill extends the maximum training period from three years to five years to provide more time for trainees to prepare for and pass the exam and makes updates to the certification and training process with the intent of helping to retain the skilled environmental health professionals needed to protect public health.
  2. Scope of REHS. This bill clarifies that body art and medical waste is within the scope of practice of registered environmental health specialists.

1. SUPPORT. The County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC) and California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) are the co-sponsors of this bill and state that certification for the REHS program is administered by DPH. The program ensures that certified REHS’s have met adequate education, training and experience requirements and have passed a comprehensive state examination. While working towards certification, individuals may be employed as a REHS trainee by local health/environmental health departments for up to three years. However, limited examination offerings and strict time limitations governing how often a trainee may take the exam have resulted in trainees being reassigned or released – even if they wish to continue to pursue a career as a certified REHS. The current state exam passage rate averages around 60%. The co-sponsors note that this bill supports strengthening and sustaining the REHS workforce pipeline by extending the time needed to pass the REHS exam, increasing REHS testing opportunities, enhancing local training plans, and modernizing REHS educational requirements. They continue that this bill also provides more opportunities for entry-level employees to continue their careers with local health departments/environmental health departments.
2. POLICY COMMENT. This bill changes the requirement for REHS Program applicants from completing specified quantities of units from basic science courses to instead completing specified quantities of units from science courses designated by the educational institution for science or clinical degrees. Given variances between educational institutions, their curriculum, and how they designate science courses for science or clinical health care degrees, this language appears to require interpretation by DPH and could prompt regulations. As this bill moves forward, the author and sponsors should consider continuing to work with DPH to ensure the effective implementation of this proposal.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Alameda County

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

Butte County Public Health Department

California Environmental Health Association

California State Association of Counties (CSAC)

California State Council of Service Employees International Union (SEIU California)

Contra Costa County

County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC)

Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services

El Dorado County Environmental Management Department

Environmental Health Services of the County of San Luis Obispo

Health Officers Association of California

Humboldt County

Kings County Department of Public Health

Lassen County

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Monterey County

Monterey County Health Department

Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC)

Sacramento County

San Diego County

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

Sierra County Public Health

Sonoma County Department of Health Services

Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency

Urban Counties of California (UCC)

Yolo County

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Eliza Brooks / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097