Article 3. Nursing Education Scholarships of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 107. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 3.

Recognizing that there is a shortage in supply of registered nurses, and that if the number of nursing students is to be materially increased to meet the demand there must first be an increase in the number of persons qualified for teaching or supervising in clinical areas, and further recognizing that the cost of education deters nurses from obtaining the education necessary to qualify them for teaching or supervision in clinical areas, there are hereby created state scholarships that shall be maintained by the state and awarded and administered pursuant to this article.

There shall be available at least 10 scholarships per year. The scholarships shall be available to any registered nurse who is enrolled in one of the following accredited nursing programs in a college or university in California that is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges:
  (a) The junior or senior year in a bachelor's degree program in nursing.
  (b) A program supplementary to a bachelor's degree program in nursing required for admission to master's level studies, in nursing.
  (c) A master's degree or a post-master's program in teaching or supervision in a clinical nursing area.

No person shall be awarded a scholarship under subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 127980 unless:
  (a) He or she is a resident of California.
  (b) He or she is licensed as a registered nurse by this state.
  (c) He or she has complied with all the regulations adopted pursuant to this article.
  (d) He or she has agreed that he or she will continue his or her education to completion of the bachelor's degree or a program supplemental to a bachelor's degree required for admission to master level studies in nursing, and that after completion of the requirements of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 127980 and within a period of time to be determined by the office, will enroll in an accredited master's degree program in teaching or supervision in a clinical nursing area.
  (e) He or she agrees that immediately upon completion of his or her graduate study, either master's degree or post-master's program, he or she will assume an employment obligation in California in teaching or supervision in a clinical nursing area, for not less than one year.

No person shall be awarded a scholarship under subdivision (c) of Section 127980 unless he or she satisfies the requirements prescribed by subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (e) of Section 127985.

The office shall administer the program of nursing education scholarships and shall for this purpose, adopt regulations as it determines are necessary to carry out this article.

Applications for scholarships shall be made to the office, upon forms provided by it, at the times and in the manner prescribed by the regulations adopted by the office.

The office shall award the scholarships to the applicants that it determines are best fitted to undertake the educational program for which the scholarships are awarded and will be the best qualified to teach or supervise. In awarding the scholarships the office may give a preference to applicants who are willing to be available, upon the completion of their educational program, for a position in any part of the state. The office shall not, however, award any scholarship to an applicant if it determines that the applicant has adequate financial resources to pay the cost of the education necessary to qualify him or her for teaching or supervision in a clinical area.

Scholarships shall be awarded without regard to race, religion, creed, or sex.

Each scholarship under this article is for the period of no more than one academic year, and the award shall be:
  (a) For a person qualifying under subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 127980, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) per month for 12 months, plus school fees.
  (b) For a person qualifying under subdivision (c) of Section 127980, the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per month for 12 months, plus school fees.

A scholarship shall remain in effect only during the period, as determined by the office, that the person receiving the award achieves satisfactory progress and is regularly enrolled, within the terms of this article, as a full-time student.