§ 128571. — 128571. (Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 601, Sec. 2.)

(a)
The department shall establish competitive application criteria to ensure the optimal sites selection for the education programs within the California State University system or the University of California, including prioritization of programs that serve an area of demonstrated maternity or midwifery workforce need.
(b)
The department shall ensure that a master’s degree is an option for students as the culminating degree of the education programs receiving funds.
(c)
The education programs shall meet the regulatory requirements for nurse-midwifery education in California and the necessary requirements to be accredited or preaccredited by the Accreditation Commission for
Midwifery Education. The programs are not required to be located within a school of nursing.
(d)
The fund shall support the annual operating costs for the development, operation, and maintenance of the education programs through the graduation of the first cohort of matriculated students, or five years, whichever is shorter.

Legislative History

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 601, Sec. 2. (SB 520) Effective January 1, 2026.