(a) Notwithstanding Section 66010.4, in order to meet specific nursing education needs in California, the California State University may establish Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs.

(b) The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree offered by the California State University shall be distinguished from the doctor of philosophy degrees in nursing offered at, or in conjunction with, the University of California.

(c) Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs offered by the California State University shall focus on the preparation of nursing faculty to teach in postsecondary nursing education programs and may also train nurses for advanced nursing practice or nurse leadership, or both.

(d) Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs established by the California State University are not exempt from any required review and approval processes.

(e)  Enrollments in Doctor of Nursing Practice programs shall not alter the California State University’s ratio of graduate instruction to total enrollment, and shall not diminish enrollment growth in university undergraduate programs.

(f) The California State University shall provide any initial funding needed for Doctor of Nursing Practice programs authorized by this article from within existing budgets for academic programs support, without diminishing the quality of program support offered to California State University undergraduate programs. It is the intent of the Legislature that the California State University seek private donations or other nonstate funds to fund startup costs for Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 702, Sec. 2. (AB 422) Effective January 1, 2018.)