Nursing: licensure: retired licenses.

Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of nurses by the Board of Registered Nursing in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires a licensee under the act to apply for renewal of their license every 2 years and allows an inactive license to be reactivated, as specified. Existing law makes a violation of the act a crime. This bill would establish a retired license for registered nurses. The bill would require the board, upon application and payment of a fee established by the board, to issue a retired license to a registered nurse who meets prescribed qualifications. This bill would authorize a retired licensee to provide limited nursing services, as specified, including requirements that nursing services be provided to the public, free of charge, in public health programs, that the retired licensee be supervised by active licensees, and that the services be limited to those services that the retired licensee was permitted to perform under the licensee's active license and that the licensee is competent to perform. The bill would prohibit a retired licensee from engaging in any activity that requires an active registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse license. Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would exempt a retired licensee from continuing education requirements. The bill would provide for board enforcement against a retired license for a violation of the act and, for this purpose, would deem a retired license a lapsed license. The bill would authorize a one-time reinstatement of a retired license to active status, as prescribed. 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.