SB 1302: Nursing.

Official summary

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

(1)Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, establishes the Board of Registered Nursing within the Department of Consumer Affairs, until January 1, 2027, and sets forth its powers and duties regarding the licensure and regulation of registered nurses. Existing law creates the Board of Registered Nursing Fund and makes all moneys in the fund available upon appropriation by the Legislature. A violation of the act is a crime.

Existing law requires the board, until January 1, 2027, to appoint an executive officer to perform the duties delegated by the board and to be responsible to the board for the accomplishment of those duties, as specified. Existing law requires the board, for the purpose of transacting its business, to meet at least once every 3 months, at times and places it designates by resolution, and requires those meetings to be held in northern and southern California.

This bill would extend those dates until January 1, 2031. The bill would remove the above-described location requirements for meetings held by the board, and, instead, require the board to meet at least once every 3 months in locations that are, to the extent practicable, geographically diverse.

(2)Existing law specifies that an approved school of nursing, or an approved nursing program, is one that, among other things, gives a course of instruction approved by the board, as specified. Existing law requires the board to prepare and maintain a list of approved schools of nursing whose graduates are eligible to apply for a license to practice nursing, as provided. Existing law requires the board, through its executive officer, to inspect all schools of nursing in the state at the times the board deems necessary, as specified.

This bill would require the board to make the list of approved schools of nursing available on its internet website. The bill would require the inspection criteria to be consistent with the 2020 Nursing Education Approval Guidelines established by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, or its successor, as specified.

Existing law requires an approved school of nursing or a nursing program to meet a minimum of 500 direct patient care clinical hours in a board-approved clinical setting, as specified, and requires additional clinical hours required by the program for nursing education preparation in each nursing area as specified by the board to be identified and documented in the curriculum plan for each area.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 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. September 20, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 429, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 20, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 429, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 20, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 20, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
6. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
7. August 27, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5946.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
8. August 27, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9. August 26, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
10. August 26, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
11. August 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6608.) Ordered to the Senate.
12. August 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6608.) Ordered to the Senate.