By Kristy Wiese
Legislative Advocate
With the Legislature adjourned and the Governor’s bill signing period concluded, CANP continues to work with the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) on the implementation of AB 890.
On Nov. 17, the BRN voted to initiate the rulemaking on the regulations for AB 890 implementation. This means that the formal regulatory process has begun. The regulations adopted by the BRN were approved by the Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee on Nov. 16. CANP has engaged with the BRN to ensure the regulations ultimately adopted are true to the spirit and intent of AB 890. Although the draft regulations are a good start, key issues remain, including language to clearly state that the transition-to-practice is intended for new graduates only and issues with respect to required certification and attestation for NPs to practice independently. CANP will continue to be actively involved in the regulatory process to advocate for regulations that effectively and efficiently implement AB 890 and expand access to care throughout California.
Now that the formal rulemaking process has started, the draft regulations must undergo pre-notice review by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, and the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). Once the pre-notice review is complete, the regulations will go out for a 45-day public comment period. After that comment period, the BRN will decide whether to make changes to the regulations based on stakeholder comment. If changes are made, there will be additional 15-day comment periods until the BRN is satisfied with the regulatory text. Once the regulations are adopted, they will go back to the OAL for approval before going into effect. Per AB 890, the BRN must adopt regulations by January 1, 2023.
On a broader scale, the focus in California is on the redistricting of congressional, legislative and local districts and continued efforts to mitigate COVID-19. Redistricting is the once-a-decade process of redrawing the political boundaries for elective offices after the U.S. Census. Based on information from the U.S. Census, the Citizens Redistricting Commission, which was created when voters passed the Voters First Act in 2008, redraws the boundaries of California’s Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts. On Nov. 11, 2021, the commission released Preliminary Draft District Maps. As directed by the California Supreme Court, the commission must approve and certify final statewide maps to the Secretary of State by Dec. 27.
As we head into the winter months, health officials warn that there is an elevated risk of COVID-19 transmission due to a string of major holidays plus colder weather driving more gatherings indoors, where the virus spreads more easily. California’s worst surge of the pandemic came last winter. Currently, about two-thirds of all Californians are now fully vaccinated; more than 4.2 million have received booster doses; and children 5 to 11 were recently cleared for vaccination.
The Legislature will reconvene from interim recess on Jan. 3, 2022. CANP continues to advocate for NPs and their patients and remains focused on the successful implementation of AB 890.