Bill > SB520

This bill creates the California Nurse-Midwifery Education Fund to establish master's-level nurse-midwifery education programs within the California State University (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) systems, addressing a critical maternity care access crisis in the state. The bill aims to increase the number of nurse-midwifery programs, currently limited to only one at CSU Fullerton, by providing funding and establishing competitive application criteria for new programs. The Department of Health Care Access and Information will administer the fund, which will receive money from the General Fund, with an initial intent to appropriate $2 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year. The fund will support the development and operation of education programs for up to five years or until the first student cohort graduates, with requirements that programs meet state regulatory standards and can potentially be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. The bill highlights the potential benefits of increasing midwifery care, including improved birth outcomes, reduced maternal mortality, addressing race-based healthcare disparities, and providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Any funds received will supplement, not replace, existing midwifery education funding, ensuring additional resources for expanding nurse-midwifery education in California.

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB520