BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2183
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 7, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2183 (Bocanegra) - As Amended: April 29, 2014
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 9-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) to take
specified actions and issue regulations that address equivalency
of education for those already working as a nurse outside the
state, and clarify whether and to what extent prior professional
experience may be applied for purposes of meeting licensure
requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT
One-time costs of $300,000 to $400,000 for BRN to develop
regulations and evaluate applications according to new criteria,
and ongoing costs to BRN of $200,000 (BRN Fund).
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, it is unclear by what
criteria the BRN determines whether to approve or deny an
application for licensure when the applicant completed
instruction out of state. Additionally, it is difficult to
tell what BRN considers equivalent course instruction when
determining whether to license an out-of-state applicant.
This bill seeks to require BRN to clarify course equivalency
and to prescribe by regulation whether, and in what amounts,
professional experience counts toward licensure.
2)Background . Existing law authorizes the BRN to issue a
license to individuals who are licensed in a state with
requirements for licensing or registration equal to or higher
than those in California, and requires potential licensees to
meet minimum educational requirements that are at least
AB 2183
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equivalent to California's standards. Current law also
states BRN must require approved schools to give student
applicants credit for previous education, and the opportunity
to obtain credit for other acquired knowledge. Presumably,
this should accommodate professional experience. BRN,
however, does not require schools to give applicants credit
for professional experience, but delegates the option to
schools. BRN does not believe any approved schools give
applicants credit for professional experience. Thus, unless
students gain education through schools meeting exact
California standards, it appears they do not qualify for
nursing licenses, potentially posing a barrier for nurses who
wish to practice in California.
3)Support . The Association of California Healthcare Districts
supports this bill, citing difficulty filling nursing
vacancies in rural areas and their belief this would grow the
workforce.
4)Opposition . The California Nurses Association opposes this
bill, indicating their belief it undermines current licensure
requirements.
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081