BILL NUMBER: SB 139 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 20, 2007
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 17, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 2, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Senator Scott
(Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Padilla, and Wyland)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Beall, Galgiani, and Horton)
JANUARY 25, 2007
An act to amend Sections 70101, 70106, 70120, 70124, 70125, 78261,
87482, 89267, and 92645 of, and to add Sections 66055.8, 66055.9,
70128.5, 78261.3, and 89267.3 to, the Education Code, and to add
Article 5 (commencing with Section 128050) to Chapter 2 of Part 3 of
Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to nursing
education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 139, as amended, Scott. Nursing education.
(1) The existing Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth, among
other things, the missions and functions of the various segments of
postsecondary education in the state. These segments include the
California State University, the California Community Colleges, and
the various private and independent colleges and universities.
This bill would add to the Donahoe Higher Education Act a
provision prohibiting a campus of the California State University or
the California Community Colleges that operates a registered nursing
program from requiring a student who has been admitted to that
registered nursing program and who has already earned a baccalaureate
or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher
education to complete general education requirements. The bill would
instead authorize these segments to require those students to
complete only the coursework that is necessary to prepare him or her
for licensing as a registered nurse.
The bill would authorize any college, university, or other entity
that operates an accredited registered nursing program to require any
prospective student to provide criminal record clearance, as
defined, prior to enrollment.
(2) Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the
primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized
student financial aid programs available to students attending all
segments of postsecondary education.
Existing law establishes the State Nursing Assumption Program of
Loans for Education (SNAPLE), administered by the commission, under
which any person enrolled in an institution of postsecondary
education and participating in that loan assumption program is
eligible to receive a conditional warrant for loan assumption, to be
redeemed upon becoming employed as a full-time nursing faculty member
at a California college or university.
Existing law establishes a loan assumption program for employees
of specified state facilities within the SNAPLE program. This program
provides loan assumption benefits to persons who fulfill agreements
to work full time for 4 consecutive years as clinical registered
nurses in state-operated 24-hour facilities, as specified, that
employ registered nurses and that, at the time the person commences
employment at the facility, have a vacancy rate of greater than 10%
in clinical registered nursing positions, as reported, pursuant to
the bill, to the commission by the Department of Personnel
Administration. The program provides for a progressive assumption of
the amount of a qualifying loan over 4 consecutive years of
qualifying clinical registered nursing service, up to a total loan
assumption of $20,000.
Under existing law, this program becomes inoperative on July 1,
2012, and is repealed on January 1, 2013.
This bill would make a person who has earned a baccalaureate or
graduate level degree, and who meets the other requirements of the
program, eligible to enter into an agreement for loan assumption
under the program. The bill would require that, if a provision is
added to the program and the commission deems it necessary to adopt a
rule or regulation to implement that provision, the commission
develop and adopt that rule or regulation no later than 6 months
after the operative date of the statute that adds the provision.
The bill would make a person who is currently employed as a
registered nurse in a state-operated 24-hour facility ineligible to
enter into an agreement for loan assumption under this program. The
bill would also specify that, in any fiscal year, the commission
shall award no more than the number of warrants that are authorized
by the Governor and the Legislature in the annual Budget Act for that
year for the assumption of loans pursuant to the program.
(3) Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the
California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California
Community Colleges to award grants to community college districts
with associate degree nursing programs to expand enrollment, reduce
program attrition, or both. Under this provision, funds may be used
for, among other purposes, the providing of diagnostic assessments.
This bill would provide that the board of governors solely, rather
than the board of governors and the chancellor, would award these
grants. The bill would authorize a community college district,
irrespective of whether it participates in the program established by
this provision, to use multicriteria screening measures, including
any diagnostic assessment tool that is commonly used in registered
nursing programs and is approved by the chancellor.
The bill would authorize a community college registered nursing
program to use additional multicriteria screening measures if it
determines that the number of applicants to that program exceeds its
capacity. The bill would prohibit a community college district from
excluding an applicant to a registered nursing program on the sole
basis that the applicant is not a resident of that district or has
not completed prerequisite courses in that district.
(4) Existing law establishes the California State University,
under the administration of the Trustees of the California State
University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education
in this state. Existing law provides for the operation of 25
component institutions of the university.
Existing law establishes the University of California, under the
administration of the Regents of the University of California, as one
of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law authorizes the provision of instruction at the 10
component institutions of the university. Existing law expresses
legislative intent with respect to the expansion of baccalaureate
degree nursing programs of those respective segments.
This bill would express legislative intent that the funding for
the baccalaureate degree enrollment expansions referenced in these
provisions be funded within the general enrollment growth funding
that is traditionally provided to the respective segments during the
annual budget process.
The bill would prohibit the California State University from
disqualifying or prohibiting a student who possesses a baccalaureate
or higher degree from enrolling in, and completing, a baccalaureate
degree nursing program on the sole basis of that student's possession
of the degree.
(5) Existing law establishes the Office of Statewide Health
Planning and Development, which is charged with the administration of
health policy and planning. Existing law establishes the California
Health Data and Planning Fund, and authorizes moneys from that fund
to be appropriated for expenditure for health-related programs of the
office.
This bill would provide for the establishment of a health care
workforce clearinghouse under the administration of the Office of
Statewide Health Planning and Development. The bill would provide
that the clearinghouse would serve as the central source of health
care workforce and educational data in the state. The bill would
provide that the activities of the clearinghouse would be funded by
appropriations made from the California Health Data and Planning
Fund.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 66055.8 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
66055.8. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a campus of
the California State University or the California Community Colleges
that operates a registered nursing program shall not require a
student who has been admitted to that registered nursing program and
who has already earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher education to complete
general education requirements, but rather shall require that student
to complete only the coursework that is necessary to prepare him or
her for licensing as a registered nurse.
SEC. 2. Section 66055.9 is added to the Education Code, to read:
66055.9. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any college,
university, or other entity that operates an accredited registered
nursing program may require any prospective student to provide
criminal record clearance within the meaning of Section 1265.5 of the
Health and Safety Code prior to enrollment.
SEC. 3. Section 70101 of the Education Code is amended to read:
70101. (a) Program participants shall meet all of the following
eligibility criteria prior to selection into the program, and shall
continue to meet these criteria, as appropriate, during the payment
periods:
(1) The participant shall be a United States citizen or eligible
noncitizen.
(2) The participant shall be a California resident attending, or
having earned a baccalaureate or graduate level degree from, an
eligible school or college.
(3) The participant shall be making satisfactory academic
progress.
(4) The participant shall have complied with United States
Selective Service requirements.
(5) The participant shall not owe a refund on any state or federal
educational grant or have delinquent or defaulted student loans.
(b) Any person who has enrolled in, or graduated from, an
institution of postsecondary education, and who is participating in
the loan assumption program set forth in this article, may be
eligible to receive a conditional warrant for loan assumption, to be
redeemed pursuant to this chapter upon becoming employed as a
full-time nursing faculty member at a California college or
university or the equivalent of full-time service as a nursing
faculty member employed part time at one or more California colleges
or universities.
(c) (1) The commission shall award loan assumption agreements to
undergraduate students with demonstrated academic ability and
financial need, as determined by the commission pursuant to Article
1.5 (commencing with Section 69503) of Chapter 2, and to graduate
students with demonstrated academic ability.
(2) The applicant shall have completed a baccalaureate level or
graduate level degree program or be enrolled in an academic program
leading to a baccalaureate level or a graduate level degree.
(3) The applicant shall be currently enrolled in, admitted to, or
have successfully completed, a program in which he or she will be
enrolled on at least a half-time basis each academic term as defined
by an eligible institution. The applicant shall agree to maintain
satisfactory academic progress.
(4) The applicant shall have been judged by his or her
postsecondary institution to have outstanding ability on the basis of
criteria that may include, but need not be limited to, any of the
following:
(A) Grade point average.
(B) Test scores.
(C) Faculty evaluations.
(D) Interviews.
(E) Other recommendations.
(5) The applicant shall have received, or be approved to receive,
a loan under one or more of the following designated loan programs:
(A) The Federal Family Education Loan Program (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1071
et seq.).
(B) The Federal Direct Loan Program.
(C) Any loan program approved by the commission.
(6) The applicant shall have agreed to teach nursing on a
full-time basis at one or more accredited California colleges or
universities for at least three years, or on a part-time basis for
the equivalent of three full-time academic years, commencing not more
than 12 months after obtaining an academic degree, unless the
applicant, within 12 months after obtaining the academic degree,
enrolls in an academic degree program leading to a more advanced
degree in nursing or a field related to nursing.
(7) An applicant who teaches on less than a full-time basis may
participate in the program, but is not eligible for loan repayment
until that person teaches for the equivalent of a full-time academic
year.
(d) A person participating in the program pursuant to this section
shall not receive more than one loan assumption agreement, and shall
not be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to Article 3.51
(commencing with Section 78260) of Chapter 2 of Part 48.
SEC. 4. Section 70106 of the Education Code is amended to read:
70106. (a) The commission shall administer this article, and
shall adopt rules and regulations for that purpose. The rules and
regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions
regarding the period of time for which a warrant shall remain valid
and the development of projections for funding purposes. In
developing these rules and regulations, the commission shall solicit
the advice of representatives from postsecondary education
institutions, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development, and the nursing community.
(b) If a provision is added to this article and the commission
deems it necessary to adopt a rule or regulation to implement that
section, the commission shall develop and adopt that rule or
regulation no later than six months after the operative date of the
statute that adds the provision.
SEC. 5. Section 70120 of the Education Code is amended to read:
70120. (a) (1) Any person enrolled in an eligible institution, or
any person who agrees to work full time as a registered nurse in a
state-operated 24-hour facility that employs registered nurses, may
be eligible to enter into an agreement for loan assumption, to be
redeemed pursuant to Section 70122 upon becoming employed as a
clinical registered nurse in a state-operated 24-hour facility that
employs registered nurses and that has a clinical registered nurse
vacancy rate of greater than 10 percent as reported annually to the
commission by the Department of Personnel Administration pursuant to
Section 70121. In order to be eligible to enter into an agreement for
loan assumption, an applicant shall satisfy all of the conditions
specified in subdivision (b).
(2) As used in this article, "eligible institution" means a
postsecondary institution that is determined by the Student Aid
Commission to meet both of the following requirements:
(A) The institution is eligible to participate in state and
federal financial aid programs.
(B) The institution maintains an accredited program of
professional preparation for licensing as a registered nurse in
California.
(3) As used in this article, "state-operated 24-hour facility"
includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a state-operated prison,
psychiatric hospital, or veterans' home.
(b) (1) The applicant has been admitted to, or is enrolled in, or
has successfully completed an accredited program of professional
preparation for licensing as a registered nurse in California.
However, a person who is currently employed as a registered nurse in
a state-operated 24-hour facility may be eligible to enter into an
agreement for loan assumption under Article 1 (commencing with
Section 70100), but is not eligible to enter into an agreement for
loan assumption under this article.
(2) The applicant is currently enrolled, or has been admitted to a
program in which he or she will be enrolled, on a full-time basis,
as determined by the participating institution. The applicant shall
agree to maintain satisfactory academic progress and a minimum of
full-time enrollment, as defined by the participating eligible
institution.
(3) The applicant has been judged by his or her postsecondary
institution to have outstanding ability on the basis of criteria that
may include, but need not be limited to, any of the following:
(A) Grade point average.
(B) Test scores.
(C) Faculty evaluations.
(D) Interviews.
(E) Other recommendations.
(4) The applicant has received, or is approved to receive, a loan
under one or more of the following designated loan programs:
(A) The Federal Family Education Loan Program (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1071
et seq.).
(B) Any loan program approved by the Student Aid Commission.
(5) The applicant has agreed to work full time for at least four
consecutive years as a clinical registered nurse in a state-operated
24-hour facility that employs registered nurses and that has a
clinical registered nurse vacancy rate of greater than 10 percent as
reported annually to the commission by the Department of Personnel
Administration.
(c) No applicant who has completed fewer than 60 semester units,
or the equivalent, shall be eligible under this section to
participate in the loan assumption program set forth in this article.
(d) An agreement shall remain valid even if the state-operated
facility at which the applicant is employed ceases to be listed
pursuant to Section 70121 after the applicant is employed there.
(e) A person participating in the program pursuant to this section
shall not enter into more than one agreement.
SEC. 6. Section 70124 of the Education Code is amended to read:
70124. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), if a program
participant fails to complete a minimum of four consecutive years of
full-time employment as required by this article, under the terms of
the agreement pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section
70120, the participant shall assume full liability for all student
loan obligations remaining after the commission's assumption of loan
liability for the last year of qualifying clinical registered nursing
service pursuant to Section 70123.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a program participant
becomes unable to complete one of the four consecutive years of
qualifying clinical registered nursing service due to serious
illness, pregnancy, or other natural causes, the term of the loan
assumption agreement shall be extended for a period not to exceed one
year. The commission shall make no further payments under the loan
assumption agreement until the applicable work requirements as
specified in Section 70122 have been satisfied.
(c) If a natural disaster prevents a program participant from
completing one of the required years of work due to the interruption
of employment at the employing state facility, the term of the loan
assumption agreement shall be extended for the period of time equal
to the period from the interruption of employment at the employing
state facility to the resumption of employment. The commission shall
make no further payments under the loan assumption agreement until
the applicable employment requirements specified in Section 70123
have been satisfied.
SEC. 7. Section 70125 of the Education Code is amended to read:
70125. (a) The commission shall administer this article, and
shall adopt rules and regulations for that purpose. The rules and
regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions
regarding the period of time during which an agreement shall remain
valid, the reallocation of resources in light of agreements that are
not utilized by program participants, the failure, for any reason, of
a program participant to complete a minimum of four consecutive
years of qualifying clinical registered nursing service, and the
development of projections for funding purposes.
(b) If a provision is added to this article and the commission
deems it necessary to adopt a rule or regulation to implement that
provision, the commission shall develop and adopt that rule or
regulation no later than six months after the operative date of the
statute that adds the provision.
SEC. 8. Section 70128.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
70128.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any
fiscal year, the commission shall award no more than the number of
warrants that are authorized by the Governor and the Legislature in
the annual Budget Act for that year for the assumption of loans
pursuant to this article.
SEC. 9. Section 78261 of the Education Code is amended to read:
78261. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
(1) The Legislature intends to facilitate both the expansion of
associate degree nursing programs and the improvement in completion
rates in those programs.
(2) The Legislature also intends that community colleges employ
nationally recognized diagnostic assessment tools that are aligned
with national nursing licensure requirements. Both students and the
state benefit when diagnostic assessments are supplemented with
educational opportunities to assist students in meeting skill levels.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to create a Nursing
Enrollment Growth and Retention program in the Chancellor's Office of
the California Community Colleges. The purpose of this program shall
be to provide grants to community college associate degree of
nursing programs that meet either of the following conditions:
(1) The nursing program has low or moderate program attrition
levels.
(2) The nursing program provides a comprehensive program of
diagnostic assessment, prenursing preparation, and program-based
support to students.
(c) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that this program
shall be funded, beginning in the 2006-07 fiscal year, by a
redirection of the ten million dollars ($10,000,000) provided
annually pursuant to the Budget Act of 2005, along with an additional
investment of two million eight hundred eighty-six thousand dollars
($2,886,000) annually, for a total program budget of twelve million
eight hundred eighty-six thousand dollars ($12,886,000) annually.
Unencumbered funds that were appropriated in the Budget Act of 2005
may be used for capacity building and equipment in the 2006-07 fiscal
year.
(2) Up to 3 percent of the funds appropriated for this program may
be used for statewide administration, program development, program
evaluation, and program accountability. As used in this paragraph,
"program development" includes, but is not necessarily limited to,
activities related to partnerships or collaborations between
community colleges and institutions of higher education offering
baccalaureate degrees in order to offer
increase the number of students completing bachelor of the
science of nursing (BSN), master of the science of nursing (MSN), and
master's entry programs in nursing (MEPN) courses of study.
(d) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges
may award grants to community college districts with associate degree
nursing programs to expand enrollment, reduce program attrition, or
both. Funds shall be used only for the following purposes: expanding
enrollment, providing diagnostic assessments, and offering preentry
coursework to prospective nursing students and diagnostic assessments
and supportive services to enrolled nursing students. For purposes
of this section, supportive services include, but are not necessarily
limited to, tutoring, case management, mentoring, and counseling
services. Funds may also be used to develop alternative delivery
models such as part-time, evening, weekend, and summer program
offerings. In order to qualify for these funds, a community college
associate degree nursing program shall do either of the following:
(1) Have a program attrition rate, as determined by the Board of
Registered Nursing's Annual School Report or the Information Program
Data System of the Chancellor's Office of the California Community
Colleges, of 15 percent or less for the year prior to application for
funding.
(2) Commit to implement a comprehensive program of diagnostic
assessment, prenursing enrollment preparation, and program-based
support to enrolled students, as defined in this article.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 78213 or any other provision of law,
prior to awarding any funds to be used for reducing program
attrition, the chancellor's office shall do all of the following:
(1) Identify, in collaboration with community college associate
degree nursing programs, nationally recognized diagnostic assessment
tools that determine the likelihood of academic success in community
college registered nursing education programs.
(2) Establish, in collaboration with community college associate
degree nursing programs, the systemwide proficiency level necessary
for academic success for each diagnostic assessment tool.
(3) Define the kinds of educational and support services that
qualify for funding under this program.
(f) As a condition of receiving grants under paragraph (2) of
subdivision (d), a community college district shall, at a minimum, do
all of the following:
(1) Utilize diagnostic assessment tools prior to enrollment to
determine readiness for community college associate degree nursing
programs.
(2) Offer, or identify, educational preentry coursework,
including, but not necessarily limited to, tutorials, instructional
resources, or noncredit instruction, aligned to the entry level
nursing standards and curriculum for students who fail to demonstrate
readiness based upon the diagnostic assessment tools.
(3) Provide access to prenursing coursework for all students who
do not demonstrate readiness based upon the diagnostic assessment
tools.
(4) Require that students demonstrate readiness through the
diagnostic assessment or successful completion of the prenursing
coursework specified above prior to commencing the registered nursing
program.
(5) Ensure that students that participate in educational preentry
coursework in order to demonstrate readiness based upon the
diagnostic assessment tools are not disadvantaged in the program
enrollment process.
(g) As a condition of receiving grant funds pursuant to paragraph
(2) of subdivision (d), each recipient district shall report to the
chancellor's office the following data for the academic year on or
before a date determined by the chancellor's office:
(1) The number of students enrolled in the nursing program.
(2) The number of students taking diagnostic assessments.
(3) The number of students failing to meet proficiency levels as
determined by diagnostic assessment tools.
(4) The number of students failing to meet proficiency levels that
undertake preentry preparation classes.
(5) The number of students who successfully complete preentry
preparation coursework.
(6) The average number of months between initial diagnostic
assessment, demonstration of readiness, and enrollment in the nursing
program for students failing to meet proficiency standards on the
initial diagnostic assessment.
(7) The average number of months between diagnostic assessment and
program enrollment for students meeting proficiency standards on the
initial diagnostic assessment.
(8) The number of students who completed the associate degree
nursing program and the number of students who pass the National
Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
(h) (1) Data reported to the chancellor under this article shall
be disaggregated by age, gender, ethnicity, and language spoken at
home.
(2) The chancellor's office shall compile and provide this
information to the Legislature and the Governor by March 1 of each
year.
(i) It is the intent of the Legislature that, pursuant to funding
to be provided in the annual Budget Act, in the 2009-10 academic
year, the California Community Colleges should increase the statewide
enrollment of full-time equivalent registered nursing students by
450 and, beginning in the 2010-11 academic year and continuing each
academic year thereafter, add 900 new full-time equivalent registered
nursing students.
SEC. 10. Section 78261.3 is added to the Education Code, to read:
78261.3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
(a) Any community college district, irrespective of whether it
participates in the program established by this article, may use any
diagnostic assessment tool that is commonly used in registered
nursing programs and is approved by the chancellor.
(b) If, after using an approved diagnostic assessment tool, a
community college registered nursing program determines that the
number of applicants to that program exceeds its capacity, the
program is authorized to use additional multicriteria screening
measures. This subdivision does not prohibit or prevent a
community college registered nursing program from using an
approved diagnostic assessment tool before or during a multicriteria
screening process.
(c) A community college district may not exclude an applicant to a
registered nursing program on the sole basis that the applicant is
not a resident of that district or has not completed prerequisite
courses in that district.
SEC. 11. Section 87482 of the Education Code is amended to read:
87482. (a) (1) Notwithstanding Section 87480, the governing board
of a community college district may employ any qualified individual
as a temporary faculty member for a complete school year but not less
than a complete semester or quarter during a school year. The
employment of those persons shall be based upon the need for
additional faculty during a particular semester or quarter because of
the higher enrollment of students during that semester or quarter as
compared to the other semester or quarter in the academic year, or
because a faculty member has been granted leave for a semester,
quarter, or year, or is experiencing long-term illness, and shall be
limited, in number of persons so employed, to that need, as
determined by the governing board.
(2) Employment of a person under this subdivision may be pursuant
to contract fixing a salary for the entire semester or quarter.
(b) No person, other than a person serving as clinical nursing
faculty and exempted from this subdivision pursuant to paragraph (1)
of subdivision (c), shall be employed by any one district under this
section for more than two semesters or three quarters within any
period of three consecutive years.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a person serving as
full-time clinical nursing faculty or as part-time clinical nursing
faculty teaching 60 percent or more of the hours per week considered
a full-time assignment for regular employees may be employed by any
one district under this section for up to four semesters or six
quarters within any period of three consecutive academic years
between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2014, inclusive.
(2) A district that employs faculty pursuant to this subdivision
shall provide data to the chancellor's office as to how many faculty
members were hired under this subdivision, and what the ratio of
full-time to part-time faculty was for each of the three academic
years prior to the hiring of faculty under this subdivision and for
each academic year for which faculty is hired under this subdivision.
This data shall be submitted, in writing, to the chancellor's office
on or before June 30, 2012.
(3) The chancellor shall report, in writing, to the Legislature
and the Governor on or before September 30, 2012, in accordance with
data received pursuant to paragraph (2), how many districts hired
faculty under this subdivision, how many faculty members were hired
under this subdivision, and what the ratio of full-time to part-time
faculty was for these districts in each of the three academic years
prior to the operation of this subdivision and for each academic year
for which faculty is hired under this subdivision.
(4) A district may not employ a person pursuant to this
subdivision if the hiring of that person results in an increase in
the ratio of part-time to full-time nursing faculty in that district.
SEC. 12. Section 89267 of the Education Code is amended to read:
89267. It is the intent of the Legislature:
(a) That, pursuant to funding to be appropriated in the Budget Act
of 2007, the trustees should increase, by at least 340, the number
of full-time equivalent students in baccalaureate degree nursing
programs, beginning in the 2007-08 fiscal year.
(b) That the trustees provide a report to the Governor and the
Legislature on or before March 15, 2007, on the proposed expenditure
plans to expand nursing programs to enroll an additional 340
full-time equivalent students as a result of the funds appropriated
in the Budget Act of 2007.
(c) To support the expansion of future baccalaureate degree
nursing enrollment with annual appropriations in the State Budget
Act.
(d) That the funding for the baccalaureate degree enrollment
expansions referenced in this section be funded within the general
enrollment growth funding that is traditionally provided to the
California State University during the annual state budget process.
(e) To encourage the university, in providing programs under this
article, to establish partnerships or collaborations with community
colleges to facilitate the education of students in bachelor of the
science of nursing (BSN) or entry-level master's nursing programs.
SEC. 13. Section 89267.3 is added to the Education Code, to read:
89267.3. The California State University may establish priorities
for admission to baccalaureate degree nursing programs, but it shall
not disqualify or prohibit any student who possesses a baccalaureate
or higher degree from enrolling in, and completing, a baccalaureate
degree nursing program on the sole basis of that student's possession
of the degree.
SEC. 14. Section 92645 of the Education Code is amended to read:
92645. It is the intent of the Legislature that all of the
following occur:
(a) That, pursuant to funding to be appropriated in the Budget Act
of 2007, the Regents of the University of California should offer at
least 175 full-time equivalent students in baccalaureate degree
nursing programs, at least 140 state-supported full-time equivalent
students in accelerated master's level nursing programs, including
entry-level master's programs and entry-level master's clinical
programs, at least 41 full-time equivalent associate degree nursing
(ADN) transitional to bachelor's of science of nursing (BSN) and
full-time equivalent master of science of nursing (MSN) students, and
at least 40 full-time equivalent students in traditional master of
science in nursing (MSN) degree programs by the 2007-08 academic
year.
(b) That the regents provide a report to the Governor and the
Legislature on or before March 15, 2007, on the proposed expenditure
plans to expand nursing programs to enroll the additional students
identified in subdivision (a).
(c) That the expansion of future baccalaureate, accelerated master'
s degree, ADN transitional to BSN and MSN degrees, and traditional
MSN degree nursing enrollment be supported with appropriations in the
annual Budget Act.
(d) That the funding for the baccalaureate degree enrollment
expansions referenced in this section be funded within the general
enrollment growth funding that is traditionally provided to the
University of California during the annual state budget process.
SEC. 15. Article 5 (commencing with Section 128050) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
Article 5. Health Care Workforce Clearinghouse
128050. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
shall establish a health care workforce clearinghouse to serve as the
central source of health care workforce and educational data in the
state. The clearinghouse shall be responsible for the collection,
analysis, and distribution of information on the educational and
employment trends for health care occupations in the state. The
activities of the clearinghouse shall be funded by appropriations
made from the California Health Data and Planning Fund in accordance
with subdivision (h) of Section 127280.
128051. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
shall work with the Employment Development Department's Labor Market
Information Division, state licensing boards, and state higher
education entities to collect, to the extent available, all of the
following data:
(a) The current supply of health care workers, by specialty.
(b) The geographical distribution of health care workers, by
specialty.
(c) The diversity of the health care workforce, by specialty,
including, but not necessarily limited to, data on race, ethnicity,
and languages spoken.
(d) The current and forecasted demand for health care workers, by
specialty.
(e) The educational capacity to produce trained, certified, and
licensed health care workers, by specialty and by geographical
distribution, including, but not necessarily limited to, the number
of educational slots, the number of enrollments, the attrition rate,
and wait time to enter the program of study.
128052. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
shall prepare an annual report to the Legislature that does all of
the following:
(a) Identifies education and employment trends in the health care
profession.
(b) Reports on the current supply and demand for health care
workers in California and gaps in the educational pipeline producing
workers in specific occupations and geographic areas.
(c) Recommends state policy needed to address issues of workforce
shortage and distribution.