Bill Text: CA AB815 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 815 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: School nurses: credentialing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 668, Statutes of 2021. [AB815 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB815-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 815

CHAPTER 668

An act to amend Section 44267.5 of the Education Code, relating to school employees.

[ Approved by Governor October 08, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State October 08, 2021. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 815, Luz Rivas. School nurses: credentialing.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law sets forth the minimum requirements for a services credential with a specialization in health for a school nurse, which include, among other requirements, a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution for a preliminary credential and, for a professional credential, an additional year of coursework beyond a baccalaureate degree in a program approved by the commission.

This bill would instead require the baccalaureate or higher degree to be from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The bill would authorize the commission to approve a program offered by a local educational agency for one year of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree, as provided.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

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

SECTION 1.

Section 44267.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

44267.5.

(a) The minimum requirements for a services credential with a specialization in health for a school nurse are all of the following:

(1) A baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

(2) A valid California license as a registered nurse.

(3) One year of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree in a program approved by the commission.

(b) The period for which a services credential with a specialization in health for a school nurse is valid shall be as follows:

(1) For a preliminary credential, pending completion of the one year of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree in a program approved by the commission, five years.

(2) For the professional credential, after completion of requirements specified by the commission, five years.

(c) The services credential with a specialization in health for a school nurse shall authorize the holder to perform, in grades 12 and below, the health services approved by the commission and designated on the credential.

(d) The holder of a services credential with a specialization in health for a school nurse who also completes the requirements for a special class authorization in health in a program that is approved by the commission is authorized to teach classes on health in preschool, kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and classes organized primarily for adults.

(e) For the purposes of the requirement in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the commission may approve a program offered by a local educational agency, which had 40,000 or more pupils enrolled during the 2019–20 school year, for one year of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree. The commission shall apply the standards for approval of a program of professional preparation offered by a postsecondary educational institution to a program of professional preparation offered by a local educational agency.