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AB-2015 Nursing schools and programs: faculty members, directors, and assistant directors.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 09/23/2024 02:00 PM
AB2015:v95#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 2015
CHAPTER 370

An act to add Section 2787 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

[ Approved by Governor  September 22, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State  September 22, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2015, Schiavo. Nursing schools and programs: faculty members, directors, and assistant directors.
Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, establishes the Board of Registered Nursing in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate the practice of nursing. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law imposes specified duties on the board related to the approval and regulation of schools of nursing and nursing programs whose graduates are eligible to apply for a license to practice nursing. In this regard, existing law requires the executive officer of the board to develop a uniform method for evaluating requests and granting approvals.
If the board requires the approval of the faculty or directors, as described above, this bill would authorize the board to approve an individual to serve as a member of the faculty, director, or assistant director of an approved school of nursing or nursing program. The bill would require the board to approve an applicant for individual approval if the applicant submits a completed application, as described, and to display an individual’s approval status through an online search tool administered by the department. The bill would make the approval valid for 5 years and would authorize the board to renew the approval, as provided. If required by the board for directors and assistant directors of an approved school of nursing or nursing program, the bill would require an approved school of nursing or nursing program to continue to report to the board changes in the nursing program’s director and assistant director of nursing positions, except as specified. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime under the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 2787 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2787.
 If the board requires the approval of the faculty or directors in regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 2786, all of the following apply:
(a) The board may approve an individual to serve as a member of the faculty, director, or assistant director of an approved school of nursing or nursing program.
(b) The board shall approve an applicant for individual approval if the applicant submits a completed application in the form prescribed by the board demonstrating that the applicant meets the requirements established by the board for faculty, directors, and assistant directors of an approved school of nursing or nursing program.
(c) The individual approval under this section shall be valid for five years and may be renewed if the individual demonstrates to the board that they continue to meet the requirements established by the board for faculty, directors, and assistant directors of an approved school of nursing or nursing program.
(d) The board shall display an approved individual’s faculty, director, or assistant director approval status, including the approved faculty level and content areas, if applicable, and the status of their nursing license through an online search tool administered by the department.
(e) (1) If an applicant for approval under this section has a faculty position and does not meet a requirement established by the board for a different position, the board may accept a remediation plan submitted by an approved school of nursing or nursing program to help the applicant meet the requirement.
(2) If the board accepts the plan submitted under paragraph (1), the board may approve the applicant to instruct in theory under the mentorship and supervision of the content expert identified in the plan for up to one year.
(f) If required by the board for directors and assistant directors of an approved school of nursing or nursing program, an approved school of nursing or nursing program shall continue to report to the board changes in the nursing program’s director and assistant director of nursing positions.
(g) An approved school of nursing or nursing program shall not be required to report to the board any of the following faculty changes:
(1) A change in a faculty member’s teaching area.
(2) An offer of employment for a faculty member position.
(3) Termination of employment of a faculty member.
(h) This section does not modify any limitations on the powers of the board related to the faculty approval of accredited schools of nursing and nursing programs as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 2786.2.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.