Amended  IN  Senate  February 21, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 895

Introduced by Senator Senators Roth and Caballero
(Coauthors: Senators Dodd, Jones, Portantino, Seyarto, Skinner, and Wilk)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Cervantes, Megan Dahle, Hoover, Jackson, Jim Patterson, and Pellerin)

January 03, 2024

An act to add and repeal Article 3.3 (commencing with Section 78045) of Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 895, as amended, Roth. Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, under the administration of community college district governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate. Existing law establishes a statewide baccalaureate degree program that authorizes up to a total of 30 baccalaureate degree programs at community college districts to be approved per academic year, as provided.
This bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program that authorizes select community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The bill would limit the pilot program to 15 community college districts statewide and would require the chancellor to identify eligible community college districts based on specified criteria. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the program and the need to continue or expand the program. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2031.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) California has had a shortage of registered nurses for decades. The shortage has been exacerbated in recent years due to a global pandemic and is expected to worsen due to projected retirements. While this is a national problem, it is particularly acute in California, where there are only 995 registered nurses per 100,000 people, ranking 40th out of 50 states.
(b) California nursing school capacity has been insufficient in keeping up with demand. During the 2021–22 school year, 74.2 percent of qualified applications for a California nursing program were rejected, resulting in 47,687 potential nursing students being turned away.
(c) For over 40 years, the community college Associate Degree in Nursing has been the basic credential requirement for employment as a registered nurse in a health care facility, and California State University and University of California nursing schools have historically awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to those who elect to pursue a four-year degree. Due to a push by credentialing organizations to increase the percentage of nurses holding BSN degrees to 80 percent of those employed in health care facilities, the BSN degree is becoming the new industry standard for employment in California hospitals. This demand for production of BSN-credentialed registered nurses continues to increase without a corresponding increase in capacity to train them at our public nursing schools.
(d) Providing an accessible and affordable option for obtaining a nursing degree at designated community colleges will lead to the graduation of more BSN-credentialed registered nurses within our existing public system, creating a more diverse health care workforce that has less student loan debt and meets industry standards.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Article 3.3 (commencing with Section 78045) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  3.3. Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program

78045.
 (a) Notwithstanding Section 66010.4, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program that authorizes select community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
(b) (1) The pilot program shall be limited to 15 community college districts statewide. The chancellor shall identify eligible community college districts that apply based on the following criteria:
(A) There is equitable access between the northern, central, and southern parts of the state to the pilot program.
(B) Priority is given to community college districts in underserved nursing areas.
(C) The community college district has a nationally accredited nursing program.
(2) The total number of participants in a pilot program at a community college district shall be limited to 25 percent of the community college district’s associate degree in nursing class size. size or 35 students, whichever is greater.
(c) (1) The Legislative Analyst’s Office shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the program and the need to continue or expand the program.
(2) The results of the evaluation shall be submitted to the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d) This section article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed.