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.