Bill Text: CA AB829 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 829 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: California State University: Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 183, Statutes of 2019. [AB829 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB829-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 829

CHAPTER 183

An act to add Article 4.8 (commencing with Section 66043) to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.

[ Approved by Governor August 30, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State August 30, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 829, Bloom. California State University: Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law provides for the missions and functions of these segments, and states that the University of California has the sole authority in public higher education to award doctoral degrees in all fields of learning, except that it may agree with the California State University to award joint doctoral degrees in selected fields. However, existing law authorizes the California State University to offer doctoral programs in education, audiology, and physical therapy without that agreement.

This bill would authorize the California State University to establish Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree programs to focus on preparing occupational therapists to provide health care services.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Article 4.8 (commencing with Section 66043) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 4.8. Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

66043.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) Since its adoption in 1960, the Master Plan for Higher Education has served to create the largest and most distinguished higher education system in the nation. A key component of the Master Plan for Higher Education is the differentiation of mission and function, whereby doctoral and identified professional programs are limited to the University of California, with the provision that the California State University can provide doctoral education in joint doctoral programs with the University of California and independent California colleges and universities. The differentiation of function has allowed California to provide universal access to postsecondary education while preserving quality.

(2) Because of the need to prepare and educate increased numbers of occupational therapists, the state is granting the California State University authority to offer the Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree as an exception to the differentiation of function in graduate education that assigns sole authority among the California higher education segments to the University of California for awarding doctoral degrees independently. This exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education recognizes the distinctive strengths and respective missions of the California State University and the University of California.

(b) Pursuant to subdivision (a), and notwithstanding Section 66010.4, in order to meet specific occupational therapy education needs in the state, the California State University may establish Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree programs.

(c) The authority to establish degree programs granted by this article shall be limited to the discipline of occupational therapy.

(d) The Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree programs offered by the California State University shall be distinguished from doctoral degree programs at the University of California.

66043.1.

(a) The Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree programs offered by the California State University shall be focused on preparing occupational therapists to provide health care services and shall be consistent with the standards for accreditation set forth by the appropriate accrediting body.

(b) The California State University shall provide any startup and operation funding needed for the degree programs authorized by this article from within existing budgets for academic program support, without diminishing the quality of program support offered to California State University undergraduate programs.