Section 1.

1. This act shall be known as the Business and Professions Code. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 10.

10. Whenever, by the provisions of this code, a power is granted to a public officer or a duty imposed upon such an officer, the power may be exercised or duty performed by a deputy of the officer or by a person authorized pursuant to law by the officer, unless it is expressly otherwise provided. […]

Section 11.

11. Writing includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is otherwise expressly provided. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 12.

12. Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, such reference shall apply to all amendments and additions thereto now or hereafter made. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 12.5.

12.5. Whenever in any provision of this code authority is granted to issue a citation for a violation of any provision of this code, that authority also includes the authority to issue a citation for the violation of any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of this code. (Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1379, Sec. […]

Section 13.

13. The term “materia medica” as used in this code or in any initiative act referred to in this code, means those substances listed in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, the official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, the official United States Dispensatory, New and Nonofficial Remedies, or the National Formulary, or any supplement thereof, […]

Section 14.

14. The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present. Each gender includes the other two genders. (Amended by Stats. 1939, Ch. 30.)

Section 14.1.

14.1. The Legislature hereby declares its intent that the terms “man” or “men” where appropriate shall be deemed “person” or “persons” and any references to the terms “man” or “men” in sections of this code be changed to “person” or “persons” when such code sections are being amended for any purpose. This act is declaratory […]

Section 14.2.

14.2. “Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code. (Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 1. (SB 1005) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section 15.

15. “Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned. “Subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 16.

16. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 17.

17. “County” includes city and county. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 18.

18. “City” includes city and county. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 19.

19. “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 2.

2. The provisions of this code in so far as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter shall be construed as restatements and continuations thereof, and not as new enactments. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 20.

20. “Oath” includes affirmation. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 21.

21. “State” means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. In the latter case, it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.)

Section 22.

22. “Board,” as used in any provision of this code, refers to the board in which the administration of the provision is vested, and unless otherwise expressly provided, shall include “bureau,” “commission,” “committee,” “department,” “division,” “examining committee,” “program,” and “agency.” (Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 670, Sec. 1. (AB 2130) Effective January 1, 2011.)

Section 23.

23. “Department,” unless otherwise defined, refers to the Department of Consumer Affairs. Wherever the laws of this state refer to the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards, the reference shall be construed to be to the Department of Consumer Affairs. (Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 716.)

Section 23.5.

23.5. “Director,” unless otherwise defined, refers to the Director of Consumer Affairs. Wherever the laws of this state refer to the Director of Professional and Vocational Standards, the reference shall be construed to be to the Director of Consumer Affairs. (Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 716.)