SB 389

(1) Existing law, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, establishes the Respiratory Care Board of California to license and regulate the practice of respiratory care. The act authorizes, among other things, a licensed vocational nurse who is employed by a home health agency to perform respiratory tasks and services identified by the board, as specified. This bill would also authorize the performance of suctioning and other basic respiratory tasks and services by a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse. (2) Existing law authorizes an individual with exceptional needs who requires specialized physical health care services, as defined, during the regular schoolday, to be assisted by individuals meeting specified requirements. This bill would also authorize an individual with exceptional needs who requires specialized physical health care services to be assisted by a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse for the above-described basic respiratory services.