Asm. Blanca Rubio

The Nursing Practice Act provides for the licensure and regulation of registered nurses by the Board of Registered Nursing within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act requires an approved school of nursing or program of nursing to provide a course of instruction approved by the board, covering not less than 2 academic years, be affiliated or conducted in connection with one or more hospitals, and be an institution of higher education. Existing law grants the board the authority to determine by regulation the required subjects of instruction to be completed in an approved school of nursing for licensure as a registered nurse. This bill would exempt an approved school of nursing or approved nursing program that is accredited and maintains accreditation through a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or is a public institution, is accredited through a regional accrediting agency, maintains a minimum pass rate of 80% on the licensing examination for a minimum of 2 consecutive academic years, and meets other specified criteria. This bill would require an approved school of nursing or an approved nursing program that is seeking exempt status to submit an application to the board and would require the board to approve the application if specific requirements are met. The bill would require an exempt school of nursing or an exempt approved nursing program to continue to notify the board of other changes and to continue to submit annual reports to the board. The bill would specify that an exempt approved school of nursing or an exempt approved nursing program is not required to pay fees or seek board approval for certain program changes that are approved by the applicable accreditors or within the scope of the program's accreditation. These changes would include, among others, clinical experience placements at a clinical agency or facility that is already approved by the board to provide clinical practice hours and if the program staff and school or program attest under penalty of perjury that the new clinical placements will not displace existing placements. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would also specify that an institute of higher education or a private postsecondary school of nursing, subject to the above exemption provision, is prohibited from making a payment to any clinical agency or facility in exchange for clinical experience placements for students enrolled in a nursing program offered by or affiliated with the institution or private postsecondary school of nursing. 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.

(1) Existing law requires each person who, after being employed for 2 complete consecutive school years by a county superintendent of schools in a teaching position in schools or classes maintained by the county superintendent of schools requiring certification qualifications, is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a teaching position to be classified as a permanent employee of the county superintendent of schools. This bill would instead authorize each person who, after being employed for 3 complete consecutive school years by a county superintendent of schools in a teaching position maintained by the county superintendent of schools requiring certification qualifications, is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a teaching position to be classified as a permanent employee of the county superintendent of schools. The bill would authorize the county superintendent of schools to offer an employee of the county superintendent of schools in a teaching position in schools or classes maintained by the county superintendent of schools requiring certification qualifications to continue for up to 4 complete consecutive school years as a probationary employee. (2) Existing law requires an employee of a school district with an average daily attendance of 250 or more who, after having been employed by the school district for 2 complete consecutive school years in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications, is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification qualifications, at the commencement of the succeeding school year, to be classified as a permanent employee of the school district. This bill would instead authorize an employee of such a school district who, after having been employed by the school district for 3 complete consecutive school years in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications, is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification qualifications, at the commencement of the succeeding school year, to be classified as a permanent employee of the school district. The bill would authorize the governing board of a school district to offer an employee of the school district in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications to continue for up to 4 complete consecutive school years as a probationary employee. The bill would require the governing board of a school district, before an employee of the school district in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications is classified as a permanent employee of the school district, to determine that the employee has demonstrated 2 complete consecutive school years of effective teaching, as provided. The bill would require the governing board of a school district to adopt rules and regulations for this purpose. Because the bill would impose additional duties on local educational agency officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would provide that, to the extent these provisions conflict with any provision of a collective bargaining agreement entered into before January 1, 2023, by a public school employer and an exclusive bargaining representative, these provisions shall not apply until the expiration or renewal of that collective bargaining agreement. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

This measure would recognize February 7, 2022, to February 11, 2022, as National School Counseling Week.

This measure would designate the week of January 30, 2022, to February 5, 2022, inclusive, as Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

This measure would declare that passengers in motor vehicles should be educated and encouraged to advocate for their own safety and the safety of others during National Passenger Safety Week, the week of January 23 to 29, 2022, inclusive.

This measure would recognize the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated this year on September 24, 2021, and the annual California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, to the enhancement of awareness of California Indian culture.