Postsecondary education: nursing degree programs.

Existing law establishes the University of California, the California State University (CSU) , and the California Community Colleges as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Under existing law, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges is required to encourage community college districts to, and the Chancellor of the California State University is required to, standardize all nursing education program prerequisites on a statewide basis and negotiate and implement articulation agreements among the campuses and districts of these 2 segments. Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature to encourage CSU to establish partnerships or collaborations with community colleges to facilitate the education of students in bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or entry-level master's nursing programs. This bill would require the Chancellor of the California State University to implement articulated nursing degree transfer pathways between the California Community Colleges and CSU prior to the commencement of the 2012–13 academic year. The bill would require the articulated nursing degree transfer pathways to meet prescribed requirements. The bill would authorize the Chancellor of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to appoint representatives from their respective institutions to work collaboratively to provide advice and assistance relating to prescribed topics concerning the articulated nursing degree transfer pathways. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office, by March 15, 2011, to prepare and submit to the Legislature and Governor a report on the status of plans to implement the articulated nursing degree transfer pathways.