AB 876: Nurse anesthetists: scope of practice.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Nurse Anesthetists Act, provides for the certification and regulation of nurse anesthetists by the Board of Registered Nursing. Existing law requires the utilization of a nurse anesthetist to provide anesthesia services in an acute care facility to be approved by the acute care facility administration and the appropriate committee, as defined, and at the discretion of the physician, dentist, or podiatrist. Existing law makes a nurse anesthetist who is not an employee of an acute care facility subject to the bylaws of the facility.

This bill would expressly provide that a nurse anesthetist is authorized to perform anesthesia services. The bill would define “anesthesia services” for purposes of the act to mean, among other things, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and pain management provided by a nurse anesthetist for patients receiving anesthesia pursuant to an order by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist for anesthesia services. Under the bill, an order by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist for anesthesia services for a specific patient would be deemed the authorization for the nurse anesthetist to select and implement the modality of anesthesia for the patient and to abort or modify the modality of anesthesia during the course of care. The bill would provide that the selection and administration of medication by a nurse anesthetist for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and for pain management purposes pursuant to an order by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist shall not constitute a prescription as that term is defined in a specified provision of federal law.

The bill would state that the provisions of the Nurse Anesthetists Act are declaratory of existing law and of an advisory opinion, including specified case law.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 1, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 169, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 1, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 11, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. September 4, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 70. Noes 1. Page 2929.).
5. September 3, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 3, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2438.).
7. September 3, 2025Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2438.)
8. September 3, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 2437.).
9. August 26, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 25, 2025From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
11. July 14, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. July 9, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.