871.
(a) The Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Registered Nursing, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California, the California State Board of Pharmacy, the Dental Board of California, the Dental Hygiene Board of California, the Podiatric Medical Board of California, and the Physician Assistant Board shall develop a process to expedite the licensure process by giving priority review status to the application of an applicant for a license who demonstrates that they intend to practice in a medically underserved area or in a health professional shortage area, as reflected in a database compiled by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, or serve a medically underserved population, as defined in Section 128552 of the Health and Safety Code, and who meets the requirements for the expedited licensure process as described in subdivisions (b) and (d).(b) An applicant for a license shall demonstrate their intent to practice in a medically underserved area or in a health professional shortage area, or serve a medically underserved population, by providing a letter addressed to the applicable healing arts board from an employer containing all of the following information:
(1) The name of the employer.
(2) The address and telephone number of the employer.
(3) The applicant’s name.
(4) A statement that the employer is located in a medically underserved area or in a health professional shortage area, or a statement that the employer serves a medically underserved population, and identifying which is applicable.
(5) A statement that the applicant has accepted employment with the employer in the same business or profession within which the applicant applies for licensure with the board.
(6) The applicant’s proposed start date.
(7) (A) A written statement, signed and dated by an authorized representative of the employer, on the employer letterhead, declaring that the information provided in the letter to the board is true and correct.
(B) No criminal or civil penalty shall be imposed for a violation of this subdivision.
(c) A board shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section if it includes a supplemental letter or cover statement to their application explaining the availability of this expedited licensure process and indicating what an applicant’s employer would need to provide to the board for the applicant to qualify for the priority review status.
(d) A board described in subdivision (a) shall expedite the application if the address provided by the employer in accordance with subdivision (b) is contained in the search results of the current “Find Shortage Areas by Address” web page of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, which reflects the database compiled by that entity.
(e) This section shall become operative on March 1, 2025.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.