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2002 Legislative Updates
The following bills related to the practice of nursing were chaptered into law during the 2002 legislative session. Although these bills address many subjects, each affects registered nursing in some way. Unless otherwise stated, they became effective January 2003.
For additional information, please refer to www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Assembly bills
Senate Bills
- SB 993 (Figueroa) - Nursing
- SB 1301 (Kuehl) - Reproductive Privacy Act
- SB 1558 (Figueroa) - Dangerous drug or dangerous device samples
- SB 1642 (Soto) - Nutrition
- SB 2019 (Speier) - Health care practitioners: student loans
AB 1140 (Thomson) - Nursing: workforce planning (Link to AB 1140)
AB 1140 requires the Board of Registered Nursing to obtain workforce data from its licensees for the purpose of future workforce planning and produce reports on the issue at least biennially.
(Chaptered 1089)
AB 2314 (Thomson) - Nursing education (Link to AB 2314)
AB 2314 requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to encourage community college districts, and the Chancellor of the California State University to require campuses of the California State University to standardize all nursing program prerequisites on a statewide basis and implement articulation agreements between the two systems by September 1, 2005.
(Chaptered 1093)
SB 993 (Figueroa) - Nursing (Link to SB 993)
SB 993 deletes the practice restriction on the furnishing of drugs and devices applicable to a certified nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner in solo practice and requires a state department to consult with the Board of Registered Nursing in promulgating regulations that affect the scope of practice of a certified nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner.
(Chaptered 764)
SB 1301 (Kuehl) - Reproductive Privacy Act (Link to SB 1301)
SB 1301 deletes the provisions in the Therapeutic Abortion Act, including the name of the Act. It enacts the Reproductive Act, which provides that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to reproductive decisions, including (A) the fundamental right to choose or refuse birth control, and (B) the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or obtain an abortion. It provides for registered nurses, certified nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives with valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended licenses or certificates to assist in the performance of a surgical abortion and to assist in the performance of a non-surgical abortion.
(Chaptered 385)
SB 1558 (Figueroa) - Dangerous drug or dangerous device samples (Link to SB 1558)
SB 1558 authorizes a certified nurse-midwife, a nurse practitioner, and a physician assistant to sign for the request and receipt of complimentary samples that have been identified in the standardized procedure, protocol, or practice agreement that has been approved by the physician.
(Chaptered 263)
SB 1642 (Soto) - Nutrition (Link to SB 1642)
SB 1642 provides for a registered dietitian to order medical laboratory tests related to nutritional therapeutic treatments when authorized to do so, by a written protocol prepared or approved by the referring physician. When in a clinic setting where there is a registered nurse on duty, and the referring physician is absent at a patient visit, the nurse should be notified that a laboratory test is being ordered and is then afforded an opportunity to assess the patient.
(Chaptered 325)
SB 2019 (Speier) - Health care practitioners: student loans (Link to SB 2019)
SB 2019 authorizes a licensing board or agency having jurisdiction over a license to cite and fine a licensed health care practitioner who is in default on a United States Department of Health and Human Services education loan, including a Health Education Assistance Loan.
(Chaptered 683)
