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Assembly panel advances bill to let out-of-state online nursing students complete clinicals in California
Summary
The Assembly Business and Professions Committee approved AB 1082 to allow out-of-state distance nursing programs to place students for clinical training in California, drawing support from program representatives and opposition from the Board of Registered Nursing and nursing unions concerned about clinical site availability and oversight.
Assemblymember Keith Flora on behalf of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee presented AB 1082 to allow California nursing students enrolled in out-of-state distance education programs to complete their clinical training in California.
Proponents said the measure would reduce barriers for approximately 5,000 California students enrolled in out‑of‑state online nursing programs and help address the state's nursing shortage. Chris Khan of Nightingale College said students are forced each semester to relocate to other states to finish clinical training, which often results in those students staying and working outside California after graduation. Khan said the Board of Registered Nursing licenses graduates after they pass the NCLEX but currently bars out‑of‑state clinical placements in California.
The Board of Registered Nursing, represented by Executive Officer Loretta Melby, testified in opposition. Melby said California schools already face limited clinical placements, and allowing an influx of students from out‑of‑state distance programs would worsen clinical impaction and could force California programs to curtail enrollment. Melby also raised oversight concerns because the online program model at issue relies on accreditation pathways that two states defer to, and she said loss of Department of Education oversight created additional uncertainty for accreditor supervision.
The California Nurses Association (CNA) also opposed the bill, arguing it would permit unregulated distance education programs to operate without BRN oversight and could undermine quality standards including curriculum, faculty qualifications, and NCLEX pass rates. CNA said the bill could exacerbate competition for already limited clinical slots used by community colleges and CSU programs.
Assemblymember Flora noted bill language prohibiting displacement of in‑state students from clinical placements and said the BRN ultimately registers and licenses nurses, creating a licensing check after graduation. Several members asked for continued discussions with stakeholders to address enforceability and oversight. The committee accepted prior technical amendments and advanced the bill to the Committee on Appropriations.
Votes at the committee recorded the measure as passed to appropriations as amended.
