(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following: (1) The Legislature intends to facilitate both the expansion of associate degree nursing programs and the improvement in completion rates in those programs. (2) The Legislature also intends that community colleges employ nationally recognized diagnostic assessment tools that are aligned with national nursing licensure requirements. Both students and the state benefit when diagnostic assessments are supplemented with educational opportunities to assist students in meeting skill levels. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to create a Nursing Enrollment Growth and Retention program in the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. The purpose of this program shall be to provide grants to community college associate degree of nursing programs that meet either of the following conditions: (1) The nursing program has low or moderate program attrition levels. (2) The nursing program provides a comprehensive program of diagnostic assessment, prenursing preparation, and program-based support to students. (c) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that this program shall be funded, beginning in the 2006â07 fiscal year, by a redirection of the ten million dollars ($10,000,000) provided annually pursuant to the Budget Act of 2005, along with an additional investment of two million eight hundred eighty-six thousand dollars ($2,886,000) annually, for a total program budget of twelve million eight hundred eighty-six thousand dollars ($12,886,000) annually. Unencumbered funds that were appropriated in the Budget Act of 2005 may be used for capacity building and equipment in the 2006â07 fiscal year. (2) Up to 3 percent of the funds appropriated for this program may be used for statewide administration, program development, program evaluation, and program accountability. As used in this paragraph, âprogram developmentâ includes, but is not limited to, activities related to partnerships or collaborations between community colleges and institutions of higher education offering baccalaureate degrees in order to increase the number of students completing bachelor of the science of nursing (BSN), master of the science of nursing (MSN), and masterâs entry programs in nursing (MEPN) courses of study. (d) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges may award grants to community college districts with associate degree nursing programs to expand enrollment, reduce program attrition, or both. Funds shall be used only for purposes of expanding enrollment, providing diagnostic assessments, and offering preentry coursework to prospective nursing students and diagnostic assessments and supportive services to enrolled nursing students. For purposes of this section, supportive services include, but are not limited to, tutoring, case management, mentoring, and counseling services. Funds may also be used to develop alternative delivery models such as part-time, evening, weekend, and summer program offerings. In order to qualify for these funds, a community college associate degree nursing program shall do either of the following: (1) Have a program attrition rate, as determined by the Board of Registered Nursingâs Annual School Report or the Information Program Data System of the chancellorâs office, of 15 percent or less for the year before application for funding. (2) Commit to implement a comprehensive program of diagnostic assessment, prenursing enrollment preparation, and program-based support to enrolled students, as defined in this article. (e) Notwithstanding Section 78213 or any other law, before awarding any funds to be used for reducing program attrition, the chancellorâs office shall do all of the following: (1) Identify, in collaboration with community college associate degree nursing programs, nationally recognized diagnostic assessment tools that determine the likelihood of academic success in community college registered nursing e
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