There is hereby created the Vocational Nurse Education Program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information. Persons participating in this program shall be persons who agree in writing prior to completion of vocational nursing school to serve in an eligible county health facility, an eligible state-operated health facility, or a health workforce shortage area, as designated by the director of the department. Persons agreeing to serve in eligible county health facilities, eligible state-operated health facilities, or health workforce shortage areas may apply for scholarship or loan repayment. The Vocational Nurse Education Program shall be administered in accordance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 128330), except that all funds in the Vocational Nurse Education Fund shall be used only for the purpose of promoting the education of vocational nurses and related administrative costs. The department shall adopt both of the following:
(a) A standard contractual agreement to be signed by the director and any student who has received an award to work in an eligible county health facility, an eligible state-operated health facility, or in a health workforce shortage area that would require a period of obligated professional service in the areas of California designated by the department as deficient in primary care services. The obligated professional service shall be in direct patient care. The agreement shall include a clause entitling the state to recover the funds awarded plus the maximum allowable interest for failure to begin or complete the service obligation.
(b) Maximum allowable amounts for scholarships, educational loans, and loan repayment programs in order to assure the most effective use of these funds.
(c) A person who qualifies for admission to a vocational nursing program that is accredited by the board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians may apply for funding under the Vocational Nurse Education Program by establishing a contractual agreement in accordance with subdivision (a).
(d) A person who holds a current valid license as a vocational nurse who wishes to seek an associate of science degree in nursing from an accredited college may apply for funding under the Vocational Nurse Education Program by establishing a contractual agreement in accordance with subdivision (a) unless the person is able to qualify under subdivision (a) of Section 128385 under the Registered Nurse Education Program.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 182. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)