BILL NUMBER: AB 994	CHAPTERED  09/27/08

	CHAPTER  426
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 27, 2008
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 27, 2008
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 11, 2008
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 25, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 9, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 28, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 12, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Parra

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2007

   An act to amend Section 128401 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to nursing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 994, Parra. Health care: nurse training scholarship pilot
program.
   Existing law establishes the statewide Associate Degree Nursing
(A.D.N.) Scholarship Pilot Program in the Office of Statewide Health
Planning and Development to provide scholarships to students, in
accordance with prescribed requirements, in counties determined to
have the most need. Under existing law, the program will be repealed
as of January 1, 2009.
   This bill would extend the operative date of the pilot program to
January 1, 2014.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 128401 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   128401.  (a) The Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development shall adopt regulations establishing the statewide
Associate Degree Nursing (A.D.N.) Scholarship Pilot Program.
   (b) Scholarships under the pilot program shall be available only
to students in counties determined to have the most need. Need in a
county shall be established based on consideration of all the
following factors:
   (1) Counties with a registered nurse-to-population ratio equal or
less than 500 registered nurses per 100,000 individuals.
   (2) County unemployment rate.
   (3) County level of poverty.
   (c) A scholarship recipient shall be required to complete, at a
minimum, an associate degree in nursing and work in a medically
underserved area in California upon obtaining his or her license from
the Board of Registered Nursing.
   (d) The Health Professions Education Foundation shall consider the
following factors when selecting recipients for the A.D.N.
Scholarship Pilot Program:
   (1) An applicant's economic need, as established by the federal
poverty index.
   (2) Applicants who demonstrate cultural and linguistic skills and
abilities.
   (e) The pilot program shall be funded from the Registered Nurse
Education Fund established pursuant to Section 128400 and
administered by the Health Professions Education Foundation within
the office. The Health Professions Education Foundation shall
allocate a portion of the moneys in the fund for the pilot program
established pursuant to this section, in addition to moneys otherwise
allocated pursuant to this article for scholarships and loans for
associate degree nursing students.
   (f) No additional staff or General Fund operating costs shall be
expended for the pilot program.
   (g) The Health Professions Education Foundation may accept private
or federal funds for purposes of the A.D.N. Scholarship Pilot
Program.
   (h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends
that date.