It is the intent of the Legislature in adopting this article to safeguard the health, safety, and general welfare of the public by the registration of those environmental health professionals practicing as environmental health specialists who have completed an approved environmental health or science curriculum and who are qualified to work, or are working, within the scope of the field of environmental health as defined by this article.

In adopting this article, it is recognized that the field of environmental health

is a dynamic field that is continually evolving into new and complex areas of concern. This article recognizes the existence of overlapping functions with other professions carrying out specific activities that may include some aspects of the field of environmental health. The title of a person registered under this article shall be environmental health specialist. Use of the term “sanitarian” or “registered sanitarian” in statutes and regulations shall mean “registered environmental health specialists.” A valid registered sanitarian registration shall on January 1, 1989, be a valid registration as an environmental health specialist. The department shall provide a new certificate of registration to that effect.

This article does not require registration of individuals, such as industrial hygienists, health physicists, safety engineers, civil engineers, land surveyors, other registered professional engineers, or others with overlapping functions. This article does not require registration of individuals performing duties described in subdivision (e) of Section 106615, unless those individuals represent themselves as registered environmental health specialists. It is not the intent of this article to require local health departments to employ only registered

environmental health specialists, environmental health specialist trainees, or those qualified for registration in jobs involving those overlapping functions. It is the sole purpose of this article to safeguard the health, safety, and general welfare of the public from adverse environmental factors, to register those environmental health professionals practicing as environmental health specialists who have completed an approved environmental health or science curriculum, and are qualified to work, or are working, in the public or private sector in the field of environmental health within the scope of practice as defined in this article, and to protect the public from individuals performing as environmental health specialists without proper qualifications.

The department may, upon recommendation of the Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee appointed pursuant to Section 106675, adopt any regulations necessary to accomplish the purposes of this article.

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

meets both of the following requirements:

in the public and private sectors within the meaning of this article 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 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 and liquid waste and hazardous materials management; underground storage tank control; onsite septic systems; vector control; drinking water quality; water sanitation; emergency preparedness; body art; medical waste; and milk and dairy sanitation pursuant to Section 33113 of the Food and Agricultural Code. Activities of registered environmental health specialists shall be

regulated by the department upon the recommendation of the committee.

health training plan” means a training program in an organization that plans to utilize environmental health specialist trainees and has

a copy of its training plan on file with the department that conforms with the requirements of Section 106665 and that has been approved by the committee.

Except for the design of onsite septic systems, nothing in this article shall authorize registered environmental health specialists to design any of the fixed works defined in Section 6731 of the Business and Professions Code.

The governing body of a local health department may employ on a full-time basis one or more registered environmental health specialists, each of whom shall be a registered environmental health specialist as provided for in this article, for the purpose of the enforcement of statutes related to public health, the regulations of the department, and any local ordinances of a local health department that relate to activities pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 106615. However, a person who is known as an environmental health specialist trainee may be employed to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist, until the trainee is qualified by examination pursuant to Section 106670, for a period that shall not exceed five years. Prior

to employment, the trainee shall have a current evaluation letter from the department stating that the education qualifications specified in Section 106660 have been met.

Any person may make an application to the department to be registered as an environmental health specialist. The department shall accept complete applications if accompanied by the required fees.

department.

The department shall notify the applicant in writing within 15 working days of receipt of an application for a certificate of registration as an environmental health specialist that the application is completed and accepted for

filing, or that the application is deficient and what specific information, documentation, or fee, is required to complete the application.

The department, within three calendar days of filing of a completed application, shall reach a decision regarding the application for a certificate of registration as an environmental health specialist.

science coursework taken from a department-approved educational institution in accordance with Section 106640 or an educational institution of collegiate grade listed in the directory of accredited institutions of postsecondary education compiled by the American Council on Education.

psychology, shall not count toward the basic science requirements.

Educational institutions requesting approval of their environmental health degree program shall first submit their program to the committee for review. If the program meets the prescribed curricula in Section 106635 it shall be submitted to the department for approval.

Those persons who meet the educational, experience, and training requirements of Section 106635 shall be eligible for admission to the examination for registration as an environmental health specialist.

Any person who has applied for environmental health specialist registration, or who is enrolled in an approved environmental health science curriculum, or who is certified by his or her employer as serving as an environmental health specialist trainee in an approved environmental health program on or before December 31, 1988, shall be admitted to the written examination on the basis of the requirements existing on December 31, 1988.

A person who possesses a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a department-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 and has been employed as a certified dairy inspector in the State of California for at least 24 months immediately prior to applying for admission to the environmental health specialist registration examination, shall be eligible for admission to the examination for registration as an

environmental health specialist.

Any person meeting the educational qualifications pursuant to Section 106635, but who does not meet the experience requirement of that section, may make application to the department on a form prescribed by the department for acceptance as an environmental health specialist trainee. The department shall accept complete applications if accompanied by the required fees.

An approved environmental health training plan shall include program elements in the training, duration of training, and types of training.

Additional training content may include any other primary element 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, including rabies and animal disease

control.

The training program shall be integrated into the environmental health specialist

trainee’s job assignment and shall include the items described in paragraphs (1) and (2) and may include the items described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5):

submitted by the training coordinator to the local director every month throughout the traineeship.

successfully completes the registered environmental health specialist examination.

of environmental health or the director’s designee.

shall be made by submitting a new application with the required fee.

members of the former Sanitarian Registration Certification Committee shall serve as members of the new committee until the expiration of their terms.

of whom shall be a qualified, practicing environmental health specialist registered in California for a period of five or more years. For purposes of this subdivision:

from faculty of California universities and colleges with curricula leading to a degree in environmental health or public health with at least one from environmental health.

An appointment shall be for a four-year term. A committee member may serve successive terms. Each member shall serve on the committee until the appointment and qualification of their successor. A vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the terms shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. The director, upon the recommendation of the committee by a two-thirds vote, may remove an appointee member for misconduct in office, incompetency, neglect of duty, or other sufficient cause after due notice and hearing.

refusal to renew, and revocation of registrations for environmental health specialists as provided in Section 106715.

website within 90 days of the administration of an examination.

A registered environmental health specialist may maintain registration under a retired biennial registration provided the following requirements are met: