Board directs staff to prepare options to update regulations with gender-neutral language
March 06, 2026 | Respiratory Care Board of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California
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The board voted to direct staff to prepare regulatory options to replace gendered pronouns in existing regulations with gender-neutral language.
Staff described possible approaches and noted workload considerations for opening regulatory text. Several public commenters and association representatives urged a comprehensive, not piecemeal, approach. "There are more than 100 instances of gendered language in the board rules," a commenter said, urging replacement with "they/them" or neutral terms such as 'licensee' or 'applicant.'
The motion passed on a roll-call vote; staff said they will return with recommended regulatory pathways and sample language for the board to review, and they will identify whether changes can be processed through streamlined mechanisms or require fuller rulemaking steps.
Next steps: staff to prepare regulatory options and bring them back to the board for consideration, including estimated workload and a recommended path forward.
Staff described possible approaches and noted workload considerations for opening regulatory text. Several public commenters and association representatives urged a comprehensive, not piecemeal, approach. "There are more than 100 instances of gendered language in the board rules," a commenter said, urging replacement with "they/them" or neutral terms such as 'licensee' or 'applicant.'
The motion passed on a roll-call vote; staff said they will return with recommended regulatory pathways and sample language for the board to review, and they will identify whether changes can be processed through streamlined mechanisms or require fuller rulemaking steps.
Next steps: staff to prepare regulatory options and bring them back to the board for consideration, including estimated workload and a recommended path forward.
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