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SB-538 Nursing.(2011-2012)



Current Version: 09/08/11 - Enrolled

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SB538:v91#DOCUMENT

Enrolled  September 08, 2011
Passed  IN  Senate  September 07, 2011
Passed  IN  Assembly  September 01, 2011
Amended  IN  Assembly  August 15, 2011
Amended  IN  Assembly  June 27, 2011
Amended  IN  Senate  May 31, 2011
Amended  IN  Senate  May 17, 2011
Amended  IN  Senate  May 10, 2011
Amended  IN  Senate  April 25, 2011
Amended  IN  Senate  March 21, 2011

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 538

Introduced  by  Senator Price

February 17, 2011

An act to amend Sections 160, 2701, 2708, 2709, 2786, and 2798 of, and to add Sections 2786.2 and 2786.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Section 830.3 of the Penal Code, relating to nursing, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 538, Price. Nursing.
Existing law provides for the regulation of various professions and vocations by regulatory boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law creates in the department a Division of Investigation and authorizes the Director of Consumer Affairs to employ investigators, inspectors, and deputies as are necessary to investigate and prosecute all violations of any law the enforcement of which is charged to the department or to any board in the department. Inspectors used by the boards are not required to be employees of the Division of Investigation, but may be employees of, or under contract to, the boards. Investigators of the Division of Investigation and of the Medical Board of California and the Dental Board of California have the authority of peace officers. Those entities are also authorized to employ individuals who are not peace officers to provide investigative services.
This bill would extend the application of those provisions to the Board of Registered Nursing. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.
Existing law, until January 1, 2012, creates within the Department of Consumer Affairs the Board of Registered Nursing, and provides for the board to select an executive director. Under existing law, boards scheduled for repeal are required to be evaluated by the Joint Sunset Review Committee of the Legislature.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2016, and would specify that the board is subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would require meetings of the board to be held in northern and southern California.
Existing law defines the term “approved school of nursing” and requires the board to approve and regulate registered nursing schools that are institutions of higher education or are affiliated with an institution of higher education, as specified. Existing law requires a school of nursing that is not affiliated with an institution of higher education to make an agreement with such an institution for purposes of awarding nursing degrees.
This bill would delete the provisions requiring an agreement and would instead provide that a school of nursing that is not an institution of higher education or that is affiliated with an institution of higher education, and that is subject to the requirements set forth in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, requires board approval to grant nursing degrees. The bill would require new nursing schools seeking board approval to be recognized or approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. The bill would specify that the term “approved school of nursing” includes an approved nursing program. The bill would subject all approved schools of nursing to specified fees for deposit into the Board of Registered Nursing Fund, a continuously appropriated fund. Because the bill adds a new source of revenue to a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
Existing law provides that it is unlawful for anyone to conduct a school of nursing unless the school has been approved by the board.
This bill would authorize the board to issue cease and desist orders to a school of nursing that is not approved by the board and would require the board to notify the office of the Attorney General of such a school. The bill would also provide that it is unprofessional conduct for any registered nurse to violate that provision.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 160 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

160.
 (a) The Chief and, designated investigators of the Division of Investigation of the department, designated investigators of the Medical Board of California, designated investigators of the Dental Board of California, and designated investigators of the Board of Registered Nursing have the authority of peace officers while engaged in exercising the powers granted or performing the duties imposed upon them or the division in investigating the laws administered by the various boards comprising the department or commencing directly or indirectly any criminal prosecution arising from any investigation conducted under these laws. All persons herein referred to shall be deemed to be acting within the scope of employment with respect to all acts and matters set forth in this section.
(b) The Division of Investigation of the department, the Medical Board of California, the Dental Board of California, and the Board of Registered Nursing may employ individuals who are not peace officers to provide investigative services.

SEC. 2.

 Section 2701 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2701.
 (a) There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Board of Registered Nursing consisting of nine members.
(b) Within the meaning of this chapter, board, or the board, refers to the Board of Registered Nursing. Any reference in state law to the Board of Nurse Examiners of the State of California or California Board of Nursing Education and Nurse Registration shall be construed to refer to the Board of Registered Nursing.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the repeal of this section renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.

SEC. 3.

 Section 2708 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2708.
 (a) The board shall appoint an executive officer who shall perform the duties delegated by the board and who shall be responsible to it for the accomplishment of those duties.
(b) The executive officer shall be a nurse currently licensed under this chapter and shall possess other qualifications as determined by the board.
(c) The executive officer shall not be a member of the board.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 4.

 Section 2709 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2709.
 The board for the purpose of transacting its business shall meet at least once every three months, at times and places it designates by resolution. Meetings shall be held in northern and southern California.

SEC. 5.

 Section 2786 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2786.
 (a) An approved school of nursing, or an approved nursing program, is one that has been approved by the board, gives the course of instruction approved by the board, covering not less than two academic years, is affiliated or conducted in connection with one or more hospitals, and is an institution of higher education. For purposes of this section, “institution of higher education” includes, but is not limited to, community colleges offering an associate of arts or associate of science degree and private postsecondary institutions offering an associate of arts, associate of science, or baccalaureate degree or an entry-level master’s degree and not subject to the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 94800) of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code).
(b) A school of nursing that is not an institution of higher education or that is affiliated with an institution of higher education as required by the board, and that is subject to the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 94800) of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code, shall be approved by the board to grant an associate of arts or associate of science degree to individuals who graduate from the school of nursing or to grant a baccalaureate degree in nursing with successful completion of an additional course of study as approved by the board and the institution involved.
(c) If an institution of higher education, an affiliated institution, or an institution subject to the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 94800) of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code), applies for approval of a new school of nursing, the school of nursing shall be required to be recognized or approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
(d) The board shall determine by regulation the required subjects of instruction to be completed in an approved school of nursing for licensure as a registered nurse and shall include the minimum units of theory and clinical experience necessary to achieve essential clinical competency at the entry level of the registered nurse. The board’s standards shall be designed to require all schools to provide clinical instruction in all phases of the educational process.
(e) The board shall perform or cause to be performed an analysis of the practice of the registered nurse no less than every five years. Results of the analysis shall be utilized to assist in the determination of the required subjects of instruction, validation of the licensing examination, and assessment of the current practice of nursing.

SEC. 6.

 Section 2786.2 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2786.2.
 All private postsecondary schools of nursing approved by the board pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2786 shall comply with Article 8 (commencing with Section 94897) to Article 16 (commencing with Section 94928), inclusive, of, and shall be subject to Article 18 (commencing with Section 94932) of, Chapter 8 of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code. The board shall have a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau for Postsecondary Education to ensure compliance with these provisions, including the handling of student complaints regarding these approved schools of nursing.

SEC. 7.

 Section 2786.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2786.5.
 (a) An institution of higher education or a private postsecondary school of nursing approved by the board pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2786 shall remit to the board for deposit in the Board of Registered Nursing Fund the following fees, in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) The fee for approval of a school of nursing shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(2) The fee for continuing approval of a new nursing program shall be three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500).
(3) The processing fee for authorization of a substantive change to an approval of a school of nursing shall be five hundred dollars ($500).
(b) If the board determines that the annual cost of providing oversight and review of a school of nursing, as required by this article, is less than the amount of any fees required to be paid by that institution pursuant to this article, the board may decrease the fees applicable to that institution to an amount that is proportional to the board’s costs associated with that institution.

SEC. 8.

 Section 2798 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2798.
 (a) It is unlawful for anyone to conduct a school of nursing unless the school has been approved by the board.
(b) If the board has a reasonable belief, either by complaint or otherwise, that a school is allowing students to apply for its nursing program and that nursing program does not have the approval of the board, the board shall immediately order the school to cease and desist from offering students the ability to enroll in its nursing program. The board shall also notify the Attorney General’s office that the school is offering students the ability to enroll in a nursing program that does not have the approval of the board.
(c) It shall be unprofessional conduct for any registered nurse to violate or attempt to violate, either directly or indirectly, or to assist or abet the violation of, this section.
(d) This section is not applicable to schools conducted under Section 2789 of this chapter.

SEC. 9.

 Section 830.3 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

830.3.
 The following persons are peace officers whose authority extends to any place in the state for the purpose of performing their primary duty or when making an arrest pursuant to Section 836 as to any public offense with respect to which there is immediate danger to person or property, or of the escape of the perpetrator of that offense, or pursuant to Section 8597 or 8598 of the Government Code. These peace officers may carry firearms only if authorized and under those terms and conditions as specified by their employing agencies:
(a) Persons employed by the Division of Investigation of the Department of Consumer Affairs and investigators of the Medical Board of California, the Board of Dental Examiners, and the Board of Registered Nursing who are designated by the Director of Consumer Affairs, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 160 of the Business and Professions Code.
(b) Voluntary fire wardens designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Section 4156 of the Public Resources Code, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 4156 of that code.
(c) Employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles designated in Section 1655 of the Vehicle Code, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 1655 of that code.
(d) Investigators of the California Horse Racing Board designated by the board, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 19400) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 330) of Title 9 of Part 1 of this code.
(e) The State Fire Marshal and assistant or deputy state fire marshals appointed pursuant to Section 13103 of the Health and Safety Code, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 13104 of that code.
(f) Inspectors of the food and drug section designated by the chief pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 106500 of the Health and Safety Code, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 106500 of that code.
(g) All investigators of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement designated by the Labor Commissioner, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as prescribed in Section 95 of the Labor Code.
(h) All investigators of the State Departments of Health Care Services, Public Health, Social Services, Mental Health, and Alcohol and Drug Programs, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the Public Employees’ Retirement System, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law relating to the duties of his or her department or office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, investigators of the Public Employees’ Retirement System shall not carry firearms.
(i) The Chief of the Bureau of Fraudulent Claims of the Department of Insurance and those investigators designated by the chief, provided that the primary duty of those investigators shall be the enforcement of Section 550.
(j) Employees of the Department of Housing and Community Development designated under Section 18023 of the Health and Safety Code, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 18023 of that code.
(k) Investigators of the office of the Controller, provided that the primary duty of these investigators shall be the enforcement of the law relating to the duties of that office. Notwithstanding any other law, except as authorized by the Controller, the peace officers designated pursuant to this subdivision shall not carry firearms.
(l) Investigators of the Department of Corporations designated by the Commissioner of Corporations, provided that the primary duty of these investigators shall be the enforcement of the provisions of law administered by the Department of Corporations. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the peace officers designated pursuant to this subdivision shall not carry firearms.
(m) Persons employed by the Contractors’ State License Board designated by the Director of Consumer Affairs pursuant to Section 7011.5 of the Business and Professions Code, provided that the primary duty of these persons shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 7011.5, and in Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3, of that code. The Director of Consumer Affairs may designate as peace officers not more than 12 persons who shall at the time of their designation be assigned to the special investigations unit of the board. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the persons designated pursuant to this subdivision shall not carry firearms.
(n) The Chief and coordinators of the Law Enforcement Branch of the California Emergency Management Agency.
(o) Investigators of the office of the Secretary of State designated by the Secretary of State, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 8200) of Division 1 of Title 2 of, and Section 12172.5 of, the Government Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the peace officers designated pursuant to this subdivision shall not carry firearms.
(p) The Deputy Director for Security designated by Section 8880.38 of the Government Code, and all lottery security personnel assigned to the California State Lottery and designated by the director, provided that the primary duty of any of those peace officers shall be the enforcement of the laws related to assuring the integrity, honesty, and fairness of the operation and administration of the California State Lottery.
(q) Investigators employed by the Investigation Division of the Employment Development Department designated by the director of the department, provided that the primary duty of those peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 317 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the peace officers designated pursuant to this subdivision shall not carry firearms.
(r) The chief and assistant chief of museum security and safety of the California Science Center, as designated by the executive director pursuant to Section 4108 of the Food and Agricultural Code, provided that the primary duty of those peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as that duty is set forth in Section 4108 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(s) Employees of the Franchise Tax Board designated by the board, provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law as set forth in Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 19701) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(t) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a peace officer authorized by this section shall not be authorized to carry firearms by his or her employing agency until that agency has adopted a policy on the use of deadly force by those peace officers, and until those peace officers have been instructed in the employing agency’s policy on the use of deadly force.
Every peace officer authorized pursuant to this section to carry firearms by his or her employing agency shall qualify in the use of the firearms at least every six months.
(u) Investigators of the Department of Managed Health Care designated by the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care, provided that the primary duty of these investigators shall be the enforcement of the provisions of laws administered by the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the peace officers designated pursuant to this subdivision shall not carry firearms.
(v) The Chief, Deputy Chief, supervising investigators, and investigators of the Office of Protective Services of the State Department of Developmental Services, provided that the primary duty of each of those persons shall be the enforcement of the law relating to the duties of his or her department or office.