BILL NUMBER: SB 271	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  384
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 6, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hernandez

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2013

   An act to amend Sections 128400 and 128401 of the Health and
Safety Code, relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 271, Hernandez. Associate Degree Nursing Scholarship Program.
   Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2014, 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. Existing law provides
that the program be funded from the Registered Nurse Education Fund,
and administered by the Health Professions Education Foundation
within the office.
   This bill would extend the operation of this program indefinitely
and would require the office to post A.D.N. Scholarship Program
statistics and updates on its Internet Web site. The bill would also
make related technical changes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 128400 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   128400.  There is hereby established in the State Treasury the
Registered Nurse Education Fund. All money in the fund shall be used
for the purposes specified in the California Registered Nurse
Education Program established pursuant to this article. This fund
shall receive money collected pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section
2815 and Section 2815.1 of the Business and Professions Code.
  SEC. 2.  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 Program.
   (b) Scholarships under the 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 to
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 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 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 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 program.
   (g) The Health Professions Education Foundation may accept private
or federal funds for purposes of the A.D.N. Scholarship Program.
   (h) The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development shall
post A.D.N. Scholarship Program statistics and updates on its
Internet Web site.