AB 986

Under current law, in order to renew a credential issued by the Board of

Nursing, including a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse license, an

individual must 1) complete and submit with the application for renewal a nursing

workforce survey developed by the Department of Workforce Development; and 2)

pay a nursing workforce survey fee of $4. The board is prohibited from renewing a

credential unless the renewal applicant has completed the nursing workforce survey

to the satisfaction of the board. Completed survey forms are to be submitted to DWD,

which must then compile, process, and evaluate the survey results and submit a

report of its findings to specified recipients. Moneys received from survey fees are

used to fund a grant to a statewide nursing center and to pay for costs associated with

the survey.

This bill makes completion of the nursing workforce survey and payment of the

survey fee optional. Under the bill, an applicant for a renewal of a credential issued

by the board may, but is not required to, complete the survey and pay the fee. The

bill also makes changes regarding which credential holders are requested to

complete the survey and pay the fee.