Department of Consumer Affairs: licensing: applicants who are descendants of slaves.

Assembly Member Elhawary's proposal to prioritize professional licensing applications from certified descendants of American slaves would create a temporary framework for expedited processing within California's Department of Consumer Affairs. The measure requires boards overseeing professional licenses to give priority status to applicants who obtain certification through a new Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, which would be established under separate legislation (SB 518).

The provisions would take effect only after SB 518's enactment and the Bureau's implementation of its certification process. Once activated, the prioritization mandate would remain in place for four years or until January 1, 2032, whichever occurs first. The temporary nature allows for evaluation of the program's implementation before any permanent policy changes.

The Department of Consumer Affairs' licensing boards would need to modify their application procedures to incorporate the new prioritization system while maintaining existing licensing standards and requirements. The measure's implementation depends on coordination between the Department's boards and the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery to verify applicant eligibility through the certification process.