BILL NUMBER: AB 2226	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  344
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 30, 2004
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 27, 2004
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 12, 2004
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 12, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 17, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 12, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Spitzer
   (Principal coauthor:  Senator Speier)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Bates, Houston, and Maze)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2004

   An act to amend Section 2835.5 of the Business and Professions
Code, relating to nursing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2226, Spitzer.  Nurse practitioners:  qualification
requirements.
   Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act,  provides for the
licensing and regulation of nurse practitioners by the Board of
Registered Nursing. Existing law authorizes the board to issue a
certificate to use the title "nurse practitioner" to a registered
nurse who the board finds qualified.
   This bill would, on and after January 1, 2008,  require an
applicant for initial qualification or certification as a nurse
practitioner who has never been qualified or certified as a nurse
practitioner in California or in any other state to meet specified
requirements, including possessing a master's degree in nursing, a
master's degree in a clinical field related to nursing, or a graduate
degree in nursing, and to have satisfactorily completed a nurse
practitioner program approved by the board.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 2835.5 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2835.5.  (a) A registered nurse who is holding himself or herself
out as a nurse practitioner or who desires to hold himself or herself
out as a nurse practitioner shall, within the time prescribed by the
board and prior to his or her next license renewal or the issuance
of an initial license, submit educational, experience, and other
credentials and information as the board may require for it to
determine that the person qualifies to use the title "nurse
practitioner," pursuant to the standards and qualifications
established by the board.
   (b) Upon finding that a person is qualified to hold himself or
herself out as a nurse practitioner, the board shall appropriately
indicate on the license issued or renewed, that the person is
qualified to use the title "nurse practitioner."  The board shall
also issue to each qualified person a certificate evidencing that the
person is qualified to use the title "nurse practitioner."
   (c) A person who has been found to be qualified by the board to
use the title "nurse practitioner" prior to the effective date of
this section, shall not be required to submit any further
qualifications or information to the board and shall be deemed to
have met the requirements of this section.
   (d) On and after January 1, 2008, an applicant for initial
qualification or certification as a nurse practitioner under this
article who has not been qualified or certified as a nurse
practitioner in California or any other state shall meet the
following requirements:
   (1) Hold a valid and active registered nursing license issued
under this chapter.
   (2) Possess a master's degree in nursing, a master's degree in a
clinical field related to nursing, or a graduate degree in nursing.
   (3) Satisfactorily complete a nurse practitioner program approved
by the board.