Fiscal Transparency & Financial Information

The Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB) is committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and helping licensees and stakeholders understand how licensing fees support the RCB’s consumer protection mission.

The RCB is a special fund agency and does not receive General Fund tax dollars. RCB operations are funded primarily through licensing and renewal fees, and all revenue is deposited into the Respiratory Care Fund to support the regulation of respiratory care in California.

Understanding the RCB’s Finances

RCB resources support the programs and services necessary to regulate respiratory care practice in California. These activities include licensing and application processing, complaint review and investigations, enforcement and disciplinary actions, probation monitoring and compliance oversight, public license verification, information technology and licensing systems (including BreEZe), and administrative and statewide support services.

Together, these functions help support the RCB’s mission to protect consumers and promote safe respiratory care practice throughout California.

Common Fiscal Questions

      
• Why are RCP renewal fees higher than some other healthcare professions?             
                    

  Licensing fees vary among professions due to several factors, including the number of licensees within a profession, operational costs, enforcement workload, and statewide administrative expenses. Boards regulating smaller professions often have higher per-licensee costs because operational expenses are distributed across fewer licensees. While the Board must maintain many of the same regulatory responsibilities as larger healthcare boards, those costs are spread across a smaller license population.

              
        

• Where does the RCB’s revenue come from?             
                    

  The RCB’s primary revenue source is biennial renewal fees. Additional revenue sources include initial application fees, delinquency fees, duplicate license fees, citation and fine revenue, and enforcement cost recovery collections.

              
        

• How are RCB funds used?             
                    

  RCB funds are used to support licensing, enforcement, complaint investigation, probation monitoring, technology systems, administrative services, and other activities necessary to protect consumers and ensure safe respiratory care practice in California.

              
        

• What is “pro rata”?             
                    

  Like other boards and bureaus under the Department of Consumer Affairs, the RCB contributes toward shared statewide services commonly referred to as pro rata. These services may include budgeting, accounting, human resources, information technology, legal support, consumer assistance services, and administrative oversight.

              
        

Fiscal Updates and Budget Documents

Fiscal information is typically discussed during the RCB’s final meeting of the calendar year, generally held in the fall. These public meeting materials may include information regarding Board revenues, expenditures, reserves, cost recovery, and projected fiscal trends.

Current Fiscal Year

The document below provides a budget update for the current fiscal year through March 31, 2026. Historical reports reflecting final fiscal information presented to the Board following the close of each fiscal year are available below.

FY 2025–26 Budget Update (Through March 31, 2026)

Historical Fiscal Reports

   
• FY 2024–25 Final Fiscal Report (Fiscal information incorporated into 2026 Sunset Review)
   
• FY 2023–24 Final Fiscal Report
   
• FY 2022–23 Final Fiscal Report
   
• FY 2021–22 Final Fiscal Report
   
• FY 2020–21 Final Fiscal Report (Fiscal information incorporated into 2022 Sunset Review)
   
• FY 2019–20 Final Fiscal Report
   
• FY 2018–19 Final Fiscal Report
   
• FY 2017–18 Final Fiscal Report
   
• FY 2016–17 Final Fiscal Report

Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility

The RCB continuously evaluates operational efficiencies, technology improvements, and cost recovery efforts to support long-term fiscal stability while minimizing financial impacts on licensees whenever possible. Maintaining adequate reserves helps ensure continuity of operations during periods of increased enforcement activity, statewide cost increases, economic uncertainty, legislative or regulatory mandates, or other unforeseen circumstances.

The RCB remains committed to using its resources responsibly while continuing to fulfill its highest priority: protecting California consumers through the regulation of respiratory care.

Questions?

For any questions regarding RCB finances or budget information Contact Us.